{"id":11588,"date":"2021-05-26T20:09:36","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T19:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/?p=11588"},"modified":"2022-03-17T01:29:35","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T01:29:35","slug":"identify-theft-not-just-for-adults-how-to-protect-your-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/blog\/identify-theft-not-just-for-adults-how-to-protect-your-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Identify Theft: Not Just for Adults. How to Protect Your Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Overview: <\/strong>Thieves will often target children to obtain their sensitive personal information for the purposes of committing fraud. Parents will need to be careful with personal documents, ask questions of anybody requesting sensitive data, and teach kids about identity thieves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do Thieves Target Children For Identity Theft?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As reprehensible as it sounds, it’s easier to get personal information from a child. Kids think nothing of, for example, telling someone their full name, their birthday, or where they live.  Sometimes that information is all thieves need to steal a child’s identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They don’t even need to interact with the child directly. They can collect much of this information through fake giveaways, \u201clogin pages,\u201d or other seemingly official forms. Some gather information by monitoring chat apps<\/a> as \u201clurkers\u201d or by studying profile pictures and other information. In some cases, thieves will pretend to represent a scholarship board or similar organization and ask for the data outright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Child Identity Data Used For?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Children’s identities are used for all forms of identity theft. Unfortunately, there’s rarely a way to check age with a Social Security number, and private organizations like utilities usually have neither the tools nor the time to fully check out claims. Children can enter young adulthood and discover their credit has been ruined before they’ve even considered taking out a loan. In some cases, even family members<\/a> or parents of friends commit the fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Prevent Theft of Your Child’s Identity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keep an eye out for unusual mail, such as credit card solicitations addressed to your toddler or mail from the IRS or other government agency to your 10-year-old. If you receive this type of suspicious mail, run a credit report to find out if there is one in your child’s name. If you find fraudulent activity (or any activity at all in most cases), close the accounts,\u00a0freeze your child’s credit<\/a>, and report it to the Federal Trade Commission at\u00a0IdentityTheft.gov<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Parent<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Protect My Child’s Identity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n