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Identity thieves may target children because their credit typically goes unmonitored. The fraud can continue for years, only coming to light when the child is older and applies for credit, tries to rent an apartment or applies for a job. Here's a look at how parents can take steps to safeguard their child's personal information and limit the damage if fraud occurs.
What Is Child Identity Theft?
Child identity theft is a special type of identity theft that happens when someone uses a minor's personal information—such as their Social Security number and date of birth—to commit fraud. An identity thief might use the information to take out a loan, apply for government benefits, open a credit card or bank account or carry out other scams.
Because children typically don't review credit reports or receive financial statements, the fraud may go undetected for years. The child might not discover it until they apply for a student loan, credit card, apartment or job. By then, fraudulent accounts and unpaid debts may have damaged their credit.
How to Protect Your Child's Identity
Limiting access to your child's personal information and watching for signs of fraud can help avoid child identity theft. Consider taking these steps.
Consider Security Freezes on Your Child's Credit Reports
Most children under the age of 18 don't have credit reports because they haven't applied for or managed credit. However, an identity thief could use your child's information to open an account and establish a fraudulent credit file.
You can help prevent this by placing a security freeze on your child's credit report with each of the three major credit bureaus—Experian, TransUnion and Equifax—something you have a right to do. A freeze limits access to your child's credit report, making it harder for someone to open a new account in their name. Your child can lift the freezes when they are ready to apply for credit.
Learn more: Should You Freeze Your Child's Credit File?
Safeguard Your Child's Social Security Number
Only share your child's Social Security number (SSN) when it's absolutely required and done through a secure process. If a doctor's office, school, financial institution or government agency requests it, ask why it's needed, how it will be protected and whether you can provide another form of identification. Other entities typically do not need your child's SSN.
Tip: Make sure your child's Social Security card is kept somewhere secure, such as a safe in your home or a safe deposit box at a bank. Don't leave their Social Security cards in your home in the open; even someone you know could access an unsecured Social Security card and commit fraud.
Watch for Data Breaches and Scams
Pay attention to data breach notices from schools, health care providers and other organizations that store your child's information. If their information is exposed, follow the notice's recommended steps and consider freezing your child's credit if you haven't already.
Scammers may use leaked data to launch phishing scams, so be cautious when anyone unexpectedly asks for your child's personal information. Before responding to a call, email or message, contact the organization directly using a phone number or website you trust.
If the scammer successfully opened accounts in your child's name, you may receive statements, notices or debt collection requests for these accounts.
Learn more: What Do I Do if My Child's Data Was Exposed in a Data Breach?
Limit the Information You Share
Organizations may request personal details about your child when you enroll them in school or activities, start at a new doctor's office or use online services. Seemingly minor pieces of information, such as your child's full name, birth date and address, may help a scammer commit fraud. Before providing those details, review the organization's privacy policy and ask how the information will be used and stored.
If you decide to share any information, consider attaching your child's accounts to your email or phone number, rather than the child's. This can help you pick up on any suspicious activity.
Protect Your Child's Privacy Online
Avoid posting details online that could help an identity thief, such as your child's full birth date, address, school or answers to common security questions. Review the privacy settings on your family's accounts and limit posts to people you know and trust.
You can also monitor your child's social media accounts and other online activity, and set up parental controls on their devices if appropriate.
Keep Your Home Safe
A burglary that results in theft of birth certificates, passports or Social Security cards could enable child identity theft. Always lock doors and windows, and set an alarm if you have one. Keep your child's Social Security card, birth certificate and passport in a secure location, such as in a safety deposit box or in a safe.
Educate Your Children
It's important for kids to understand identity theft risks, so find age-appropriate ways to talk to your children about the topic.
Teach them not to share personal information online or with strangers, and let them know it's OK to hang up on anyone (including an adult) who asks for sensitive information. Phone calls, text messages and emails that appear to be from banks or other trusted institutions may be scams.
Warning Signs of Child Identity Theft
Detecting child identity theft can be difficult, but there are some signs to watch for:
- Offers for credit cards, auto insurance or other age-inappropriate junk mail addressed to your child
- Unexpected activity on their email, phone or bank accounts
- Collection notices that arrive by mail or phone, targeting your child
- Unexpected bills addressed to your child
- Denial of government benefits for your child on the basis that they've already been paid to someone using your child's Social Security number
- A letter from the IRS saying your child owes taxes. (Phone calls purporting to be from the IRS are almost always scams; the IRS communicates with taxpayers only by mail.)
What to Do if Your Child's Identity Is Stolen
If you discover or suspect that someone has used your child's personal information, act quickly to stop further fraud and begin correcting their records.
1. Contact the Three Major Credit Bureaus
Contact Experian, TransUnion and Equifax to find out whether your child has a credit report. If one exists, request a copy, report any fraudulent information and ask the bureau to investigate. You also have the right to place a security freeze on your child's credit file.
Learn more: How Do I Check My Child's Credit Report?
2. Contact the Affected Companies
Contact any bank, lender, utility provider or other business where someone opened an account using your child's identity. Use the contact information that appears on the credit report or on the business's official website. Explain that the account is fraudulent, and ask the company to close it and remove it from your child's records. Request written confirmation that your child isn't responsible for the account.
3. File a Police Report
Report the identity theft to your local police department. Bring documentation showing the fraud, along with proof of your identity and your relationship to the child. Ask for a copy of the police report for your records.
Learn more: How to File a Police Report for Identity Theft
4. Report the Identity Theft to the FTC
File a report at IdentityTheft.gov or call 877-438-4338. The FTC will create an identity theft report and provide a recovery plan based on your situation.
5. Gather and Securely Keep Documentation
Save copies of credit reports, account statements, correspondence, police and FTC reports, and documents confirming your child's identity and age. Also keep notes showing which organizations you contacted, when you reached them and how they responded.
6. Continue Monitoring
Periodically check for signs of new fraudulent activity. Follow up with the credit bureaus and affected companies to confirm that fraudulent information has been removed and your child's credit freezes remain in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does My Child Have a Credit Report?
Unless you've had credit reports created for purposes of security freezes or added your child as an authorized user on your credit card accounts, your child probably won't have a credit report on file at the credit bureaus. If credit reports already exist when you request a security freeze, you should look into the possibility of fraud.
Can I Freeze My Child's Social Security Number?
No, the Social Security Administration doesn't offer a way to freeze a Social Security number. However, there are other ways to avoid fraud. You have the right to place a freeze on your child's credit file. Adults can also avoid identity theft by placing a security freeze, using E-Verify Self Lock for employment fraud and requesting a tax identity protection PIN.
The Bottom Line
Child identity theft is an ugly side effect of the information age, but attention and caution can help avoid it, or minimize the damage when it occurs.
Taking precautions, such as applying a security freeze or using a family identity protection program such as an Experian family membership, can help keep children's personal information secure.