Child Identity Theft Increasing

Anyone can be an identity theft victim. You'll see that in any book, article or web page you read about the crime. Old or young, rich or poor, living or deceased, you are always a potential victim. The most obvious potential victim would be a child, and why not? A child will have no credit history (no credit cards, loans or any other services in his/her name), so stealing a child's identity gives the thief a clean slate to apply for as much credit as possible before the child's credit history is ruined. The fortunate child will have a parent notice something amiss (bills or preapproved credit offers arriving in a son/daughter's name) and look into it.

The less fortunate child won't know he/she is a victim of identity theft until trying to rent an apartment or apply for a credit card or student loan, and the even less fortunate ones will find that they have been living with their identity thief without even realizing it. Yes, there are parents who will steal their children's identities, often out of financial desperation. Imagine choosing between absorbing the debt and accepting the bad credit or reporting your mom or dad to the police as an identity thief. Fortunately, most parents don't put their children in that situation.

According to news reports, child identity theft is becoming more common, but parents can take precautionary measures to prevent this or at least catch it early. Watch for suspicious mail showing up in your son/daughter's name, and occasionally obtain copies of your child's credit report. Children, under normal circumstances, will have no credit history. Watch for people who ask for Social Security numbers in situations where they shouldn't be needed (like sports and other after school activities), and observe your child's online activities. It's my opinion that only the lowest identity thief would victimize a child, but this can be stopped early and even prevented. Be vigilant.