I can’t believe that I have to write this topic, but I do. In a world where identity theft is a frequent problem, you need to know that your kids need protection just as much as you do. Children’s identities can be stolen just as easily as adults’ identities. Unfortunately, the theft of kids’ ID’s can take much longer to be discovered. Since children don’t regularly view their credit reports, your little boy may be ready to open his first bank account before you know anything is wrong.
Protecting your children from becoming victims of identity theft basically involves the same steps you would follow to protect yourself. These tips should get your started:
Keep social security cards and birth certificates in a secure place. Truthfully, you don’t really need these forms of identification very often. Tuck them away in a safety deposit box until they are needed. Controlling the number of ways thieves can encounter your kids’ personal information is the first step in defeating identity theft.
Review your child’s credit report annually. When you order your credit report each year, you should go ahead and order your child’s, too. Since your children shouldn’t have much information on their reports anyway, you won’t have to invest a lot of time in reviewing them. These credit reports will confirm that no one has opened any accounts in your child’s name.
Keep an eye on your child’s internet usage. As Facebook and MySpace become more and more popular, the number of children on these websites grows. Take care to teach your children the difference between information that is fit for public eyes and information that is private. Birthdates and addresses, for instance, should never be disclosed on the internet.
Be on the lookout for “red flags.” Although this tip doesn’t stop identity theft, it can clue you in quickly if your child has become a victim. Children do not normally receive credit card offers and catalogs in the mail. If they start showing up at your house in your child’s name, you should order his credit report immediately. There may be activity on it that you should be worried about.
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Keep social security cards and birth certificates in a secure place. Truthfully, you don’t really need these forms of identification very often. Tuck them away in a safety deposit box until they are needed.
Review your child’s credit report annually. When you order your credit report each year, you should go ahead and order your child’s, too. Since your children shouldn’t have much information on their reports anyway, you won’t have to invest a lot of time in reviewing them.
Take care to teach your children the difference between information that is fit for public eyes and information that is private.
Children do not normally receive credit card offers and catalogs in the mail.
Review your child’s credit report annually.
Keep an eye on your child’s internet usage..
Children’s identities can be stolen just as easily as adults’ identities…IMHO
This is really important to every kids in the world. And to all parents, they must take care of their children to avoid this kind of thing to happen.