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