Identity theft finds a new target - your kids!

Posted by Joe on December 19th, 2007

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We already know that identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States, but what is the fastest growing segment of identity theft vicitims? Kids!

According to the FTC, 5% of the 255,000 victims of identity theft in 2005 where under the age of 18 which is up 40% from 3% in 2003. Most of these cases take place very early on with over half occurring prior to the age of 6 according to the Identity Theft resource Center.

Unfortunately, these cases can be hard to track because children don’t apply for credit or review a credit report to identify suspicious activity. That being said, there are steps that parents can take to lower the risk of their kids becoming victims of identity theft.

First, keep social security cards out of kids hands. In fact, no one in your family at any age should be carrying a social security card. We recommend that you keep all of your families sensitive documents in a home safe, safety deposit box or at least a locked filing cabinent.

Next, keep a look out for any suspicious mail that arrives at your house in your child’s name. If credit card offers, late payment notices or other suspicious items show up, don’t assume they are mistakes. Follow up with the company that sent them to determine the reason they were sent in the first place.

Finally, keep in mind that if your child can be a victim you certainly can as well! Take proactive measures to protect your own identity. We always recommend using a identity theft prevention service like LifeLock or TrustedID to keeps tabs on any suspicious activity. Read our in-depth comparison and reviews of identity theft prevention services to learn more.

• 8 tips to protect your children from identity theft
• ID theft hits a little too close to home
• Reader Question: Will my LifeLock or Equifax account also cover my spouse?
• Child identity theft protection guide featured on About.com Fatherhood blog
• Data Breach Alert: Eye center patients may see identity theft in their future