Child Identity Theft

A growing crime in our country is identity theft that targets children.

The Identity Theft Resource Center estimates in 2005, at least 400,000 children had their identities stolen — doubled since 2003.

Children are ideal victims because of their clean credit and absence of criminal history.

The Resource center also estimates that two-thirds of child identity thieves are family members such as an estranged mother or father.

Here are some ways child identity theft occurs:

• Using children’s names and Social Security numbers to ring up massive debt
• Criminals using children’s identities as their own when committing crimes
• Selling children’s identification information on the black market to illegal immigrants, fellow criminals, or terrorists

Ways to avoid child ID theft:

• Be sure to keep your children’s Social Security cards and other identification information in a locked file drawer—never in your wallet.
• If you’re worried about this for your child, you can order credit reports on them from three nationwide credit bureaus—if the report doesn’t come back clean, contact authorities, or the Identity Theft Resource Center.

(Alexander, Max.  “10 New Money Rip-Offs” from Reader’s Digest.  March, 2006)

Child Identity Theft Scam:

• Identity Theft Resource Center: www.IdTheftCenter.org; 1- 858-693-7935
• Credit Bureaus:
       - Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
       - Experian:  1-800-397-3742
       - Trans Union:  1-800-680-7289
• Social Security Administration Fraud Line: 1-800-269-0271