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