| As parents we most often carefully | | | | When someone request your child's SSN |
| monitor our child's websites, emails, | | | | know the reason for doing so. Ask for |
| cell phone and text messages because we | | | | copies of the bank account statement or |
| are concerned. Many times it is a | | | | other verifying documents if they claim |
| concern for our child's safety. We worry | | | | that they are setting up a savings |
| about them being approached | | | | account or other investment opportunity |
| inappropriately online. We are concerned | | | | for your child. Note, in the event a |
| about sexual predators. But have we | | | | family member or friend wants to create |
| considered that our children may also be | | | | an investment or savings fund for your |
| in a different kind of danger --the | | | | child establish the account yourself and |
| danger of identity theft? | | | | note that deposits can be made by |
| Children are the perfect target for | | | | specific individuals on the account. |
| identity theft. They have a spotless | | | | This keeps your child's social security |
| credit record and because they are not | | | | number private. |
| using their credit it may go undetected | | | | Do not carry important documents in your |
| for several years. They grow up and | | | | purse. |
| suddenly there discover their credit | | | | Do not provide your children with their |
| records are blemished. Can the | | | | SSN or Birth Certificate until they are |
| information that we share about our | | | | older. Destroy and/or shred any and all |
| children, whether it is online, to a | | | | documents of a personal nature including |
| school or medical professional allow the | | | | credit card offers, medical claim forms |
| opportunity for identity theft? | | | | (after paid) and any other document you |
| In 2005 the Federal Trade Commission | | | | do not need to keep. Invest in a scanner |
| reported that over half a million | | | | and scan the documents into your |
| children were victims of identity theft. | | | | computer, save it to a disc and keep it |
| These cases include: the use of a | | | | under lock and key. |
| child's Social Security Number being | | | | Be sure to use your computer's parental |
| used illegally for income tax purposes | | | | controls, including spyware and anti |
| and obtaining credit in a child's name. | | | | virus software, not only for to protect |
| It's easy enough to do; just the other | | | | your child's information but yours also. |
| day one of my own children received a | | | | Ask questions and distrust any website |
| credit card offer in the mail. What if | | | | or telephone call that asks for your |
| that fell into the wrong hands? | | | | child's social security number. Make |
| How can you protect your child from | | | | sure that any request for your child's |
| identity theft? The National Cyber | | | | SSN is valid, relevant and necessary |
| Security Alliance calls social | | | | before providing it. |
| networking sites "billboards in | | | | Thoroughness and vigilance are |
| cyberspace." Would you post on a | | | | absolutely necessary to protect your |
| billboard your child's personal | | | | child from identity theft. In most |
| information, such a social security | | | | cases, identity theft to children is |
| number? To protect your child from | | | | committed by friends or family members, |
| identity theft you can take the | | | | however more and more instances occur as |
| following steps: | | | | a result of information posted on the |
| Limit access to your profile, | | | | internet; whether by yourself or your |
| photographs, blogs and other online | | | | child. Don't worry about what people |
| sources. | | | | will think of you. Those that understand |
| Limit access to your child's social | | | | will see you as a concerned parent who |
| security number. You can refuse to | | | | is being very aware of the real world |
| provide it to schools and medical | | | | and its dangers, and one not only |
| providers. Educational or health | | | | protects their child's future financial |
| benefits can not be denied based on | | | | wellbeing, but also sets the example to |
| keeping your information private. | | | | other parents by teaching them how to |
| Keep a safe spot in your home for | | | | protect their children from identity |
| important documents. This can be a lock | | | | theft. |
| box or file cabinet with a lock on it. | | | | |