Did you know that children can also be victims of identity theft? In fact, they are more attractive targets for identity theft because their credit is usually clean and their identity isn’t as closely monitored as adults’ identity. Thieves can create a whole new identity with just a child’s social security number, and can cause serious problems when the child turns 18 and starts applying for credit cards, students loans or any other type of credit.

Identity Guard’s new kID Sure service helps protect your child’s identity. kID Sure monitors a wide range of data sources to track your child’s social security number and public records, as well as any applications for cell phones or credit cards. Another interesting feature of kID Sure is the Risk Assessment, which determines the risk factor of your child’s identity. The service is $4.99 and available to new and existing Identity Guard customers, so if you aren’t an Identity Guard customer, read our review here and get an exclusive 18% discount and a 30-day trial.

Q. How often are babies' and children's identities stolen?

A. Good question. It might not seem worth it to check your child's credit reports, but according to the FTC, 400,000 children have their IDs stolen each year, 51 times more often than adults. Why? With clean credit histories, kids are easy targets, and many thefts go unnoticed for years, until the child—now an adult—applies for a credit card, loan, or mortgage. So if you want to keep your children's identities safe, consider our favorite identity theft protection services for families: TrustedID and LifeLock.

Q. What information do I need to give for identity theft protection? How quickly can it be activated?

A. Most identity theft protection services, including top-rated Identity Guard Total Protection, Trusted ID, and LifeLock, require similar information: first and last name, full street address (with state and ZIP code), phone number, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address. If you haven't lived at your current address for at least the past six months, you will need to provide your previous address.

You will also need to give your credit card information; even though most companies offer a free trial, they need to start billing you after that trial period has passed unless you cancel the service.

Each service takes a different amount of time to kick in. For example, both Identity Guard Total Protection and Trusted ID begin as soon as you sign up, but others, such as Protect My ID, require more time for parts of the service — the credit monitoring can begin immediately, but the account protection depends on when you enter that information for the accounts and how long it takes to verify.

Q: If someone who has just turned 18 and has no prior credit history loses his wallet, what can he do to prevent someone using his driver's license to open up new accounts in his name? Would it do him any good to contact the credit bureaus, or are they only an available resource for people with credit histories?

A: A credit report is not created until you open your first line of credit. And if you do not have a credit report, it is not possible to set a fraud alert. Since the young man in this particular case is now over 18, he should request his own credit reports from all three bureaus in order to confirm that no fraudulent accounts have been opened in his name. He may also find that he does, in fact, have a short but legitimate credit report already, perhaps due to a gym membership, DVD rental card, or student loan. If so, he can set fraud alerts or freeze his credit file to prevent new accounts from being opened in his name.

If he truly has no credit file whatsoever and wishes to set fraud alerts or freeze his credit, he would first need to apply for some form of credit, such as a credit card. In order to acquire his first credit card, he may need a cosigner.

However, whether or not this young man has an existing credit file, he could subscribe to a credit report monitoring or identity theft service, which would immediately alert him to any suspicious activity. You can check out our reviews, comparison charts, and frequently asked questions to learn more about credit report monitoring or identity theft protection services. You may also be interested in our Student Identity Theft Protection Guide.

What you may not realize is that college students are just as susceptible as children, if not more so. Many colleges and universities continue to use students' Social Security numbers for identification purposes, which means that these sensitive digits could be plastered on ID cards, grades, and other official paperwork. Students are often bombarded with preapproved credit offers, and may also receive letters regarding financial aid. Since students move frequently and may neglect to forward their mail, sensitive information is more likely to fall into the wrong hands. And since almost 30% of college students ignore their checking and credit card balances, they are far less likely to notice if they do become victims of fraud.

We have compiled a list of tips to help college students prevent identity theft.

1. Protect your sensitive personal information.

Your sensitive personal information can be used to withdraw money from your bank account, make fraudulent charges on your credit cards, or to accumulate debt in your name. Sensitive personal information includes your Social Security number, credit card and bank account numbers, any other personal finance data (such as paperwork regarding financial aid), your driver's license number, medical information, and even your date of birth, address, and phone number.

Your Social Security number is the key to your identity. In the hands of an identity thief, it can be used to open new accounts in your name. You should never carry your Social Security number or card with you in your wallet. If you haven't already memorized your Social Security number, do so. You might consider leaving your Social Security card at your parents' house, and making a photocopy of it that can be locked up and brought out only when needed. If your college uses Social Security numbers as your student ID, request a new student ID with a randomized number that is not tied to your Social Security number. When filling out paperwork, you should only provide your Social Security number when absolutely necessary. In many cases, you will be asked for your Social Security number as a matter of course rather than necessity, in which case it is perfectly acceptable to decline.

Paperwork that includes sensitive personal information should be stored in a safe, unobtrusive place, such as a locked file cabinet. Don't leave these types of documents in your backpack or purse, and keep track of your wallet. Your dormitory and campus may feel safe and comfortable, but it is not uncommon for identity thieves to take advantage of that trusting environment. Your roommate and new friends may seem perfectly nice, but there's no need to tempt them by leaving your sensitive personal information lying around for the taking.

2. Protect your laptop.

Your laptop almost certainly contains a wealth of sensitive personal information. This access to your identity is far more valuable than the computer itself. That's why it's crucial to take a few basic precautions to protect your laptop and the information it contains.

One of the best ways to prevent laptop theft is to be conscious of the fact that laptops are extremely tempting and relatively easy targets for thieves. Never leave your laptop unattended in a library, café, or other public place. Don't leave your laptop in your dorm room with the door unlocked. You may want to consider purchasing a lock that secures your laptop to a desk or table. There are also alarms that will alert you if someone attempts to move your laptop, or if you and your laptop are separated by more than a set distance, as well as laptop tracking and recovery services. At the very least, you should label your laptop with your name and contact information, write down the serial number, and put a brightly colored sticker or other identifying mark on your laptop so that you can recognize it easily.

Use passwords to protect the information stored on your computer. Ideally, you should not store any passwords on your computer, or allow your web browser to remember passwords. If you must, at least be sure to use a strong primary log-in password to prevent unauthorized access to your laptop. Memorize this password, and don't save it or write it down anywhere on or around your computer. Whenever you are finished using your laptop, be sure to log out. For additional protection, you can encrypt sensitive data and disable instant message logging.

And of course, Internet security software is essential. Hackers use spyware, viruses, and phishing to gain access to your files, your passwords, your bank account and credit card numbers, and your PINs. The best way to thwart cybercriminals is to install software that offers thorough protection against a variety of threats, and set that software to update automatically. Since hackers take advantage of vulnerabilities in your operating system, web browser, and other software, you should promptly install all recommended patches and updates whenever they become available.

3. Be savvy when using the Internet, especially social networking websites.

Internet security software is a necessity, but there is no substitute for common sense. Understand the risks associated with social media and be smart when browsing the web.

Sharing personal data can make you an easy target for online attacks. An identity thief could use information about your classes, your network of friends and family, or your hobbies and interests to impersonate a trusted friend or convince you that they have the authority to request personal or financial data. They might also be able to guess your passwords or the answers to password security questions. Use privacy settings and common sense to avoid scammers. Most social networking sites allow you to control how much of your profile is revealed to users inside and outside your network. Adjust these settings to meet your individual needs, but in general, you should limit the amount of personal information you post. For example, never publish your full name, Social Security number, birth date, or address. Limit your circle of contacts. Consider restricting access to your page to a select group of people and setting your profile to "private" to prevent uninvited members from viewing your personal information.

Whether you are on a social networking site or any other website, you should always exercise caution when clicking on links or downloading files. Avoid opening links or downloads from strangers. Shortened URLs from shortening services such as TinyURL and Bit.ly can be used to obscure the true link destination and trick you into downloading malicious software. Phishing emails that seem to be from a financial institution or social networking site can send you to a spoofed website designed to capture your username and password. When in doubt, type the website address into your browser, or use a link in your bookmarks menu, rather than clicking on a potentially misleading link in an email. Never enter your password or account number unless you've verified the site's authenticity. Above all, pay attention and follow your instincts. If a website seems suspicious, click away.

Don't use a public computer to shop online or conduct online banking. And when using a public computer for any reason, remember to log out of all websites and the computer itself once you are finished.

4. Don't ignore snail mail.

Postal mail can provide many opportunities for identity thieves. Bank and credit card statements and routine paperwork from your college or university contain all the personal data necessary to open fraudulent accounts. Identity thieves can also use unsolicited, preapproved credit card offers to apply for credit cards in your name through the mail.

You should always shred preapproved credit card offers before discarding them. If you wish, you can prevent financial companies from sending these preapproved offers by filling out a request form at OptOutPrescreen.com. To reduce other types of junk mail, visit the Direct Marketing Association's mail preferences service website and ask that your name be removed from marketing mailing lists.

Consider signing up for online bank and credit card statements and discontinuing paper statements. As with all paperwork that contains sensitive information, store your statements in a safe place or, if you discard them, shred them thoroughly first.

You may want to think about getting a post office box for your personal mail, or maintain your parent's address as your permanent address. The latter will reduce the chance of mail going to an out-of-date address. Otherwise, make sure to fill out a change of address form at the post office when you move, to ensure that your mail gets forwarded to the current address.

5. Take responsibility for your finances.

Whether you have been earning and budgeting your own money for years or you still rely on an allowance from your parents, it's time to take responsibility for your own finances. Review your bank account and credit card statements regularly, and report any unauthorized charges immediately.

You should also begin to give some thought to your credit history. If you have not already done so, you should check your credit report for fraudulent or erroneous information. Since some businesses only report to one credit bureau, it is best to request your credit report from all three (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to ensure that you have not already been victimized without your knowledge. If an identity thief opens a new account in your name, that information should appear on at least one of your three reports. For more information about establishing and protecting your credit, check out Credit 101, another NextAdvisor.com guide specifically created to educate young adults.

Avoid signing up for a credit card with vendors on campus. If you are interested in signing up for a credit card, it is safer to contact the credit card company directly.

6. Consider a proactive identity theft solution.

There are several companies that provide comprehensive protection against identity theft. These services work to prevent, detect, and, if necessary, resolve identity theft on your behalf. Depending on the service, protective measures include fraud alerts to help prevent new lines of credit from being opened in your name, junk mail reduction, public and private database scanning for misuse of your personal information and more. To learn more about identity theft protection and the various companies that offer this service, take a look at our reviews and comparison chart.

7. Take action immediately if you think you have been victimized.

If your credit or debit card is lost or stolen, call the bank or credit card company right away and cancel the card. You should also notify your bank right away if you notice any unfamiliar activity on your bank or credit card statements.

If you suspect that you may have become a victim of identity theft, contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus and request that fraud alerts be placed on your files.

Equifax: 800-525-6285

Experian: 888- 397-3742

TransUnion: 800-680-7289

Review your credit reports for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts that you can't explain. Check that your personal information is correct. If there is any incorrect information, contact the relevant credit bureau to have it removed. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. And file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and with your local police.

If you subscribe to an identity theft protection service or a credit monitoring service, your service provider will handle these steps as well as providing additional guidance and assistance.

8. Help curb identity theft by sharing these tips with other students.

College students may find it difficult to muster up much concern about identity theft. You have a sense of invincibility, your campus feels like a safe and friendly environment, and you have more interesting and immediate things to think about. But the risk of identity theft is very real, and unfortunately, it will likely be a growing risk for years to come. Restoring your identity can be an expensive and time consuming process. It is far better to take a few sensible precautions than to suffer the consequences of becoming a fraud victim. In addition to protecting yourself, you can help curb the threat of identity theft by sharing this guide with your friends and classmates.

The FTC reports that 5% of the 255,000 victims of identity theft in 2005, the most recent year in which data on the subject was available, were under the age of 18. The number of victims 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.

Awareness seems to be the biggest problem in helping to prevent child identity theft. A recent Experian-Gallup poll found that 68% of respondents had heard little or nothing about identity theft crimes against children. But, that doesn't mean that children aren't falling victim to identity thieves at a rapid rate. That same poll found that 7% of respondents knew a child that had been victimized by identity theft.

Identity theft perpetrated against children can be particularly debilitating because it is often years or decades after the crime occurs that the victim becomes aware. There are hundreds of stories of adults that attempt to apply for their first line of credit only to find that their identity had been stolen years earlier while they were underage and, as a result, their credit was destroyed before they even had a chance start practicing healthy credit habits.

We have compiled eight simple steps that parents or guardians can take to help ensure that their children don't fall victim to identity thieves.

1. Eliminate non-essential disclosure of your child's social security number
2. Monitor your child's postal mail
3. Limit the amount of personal information that is available about your child on the Internet
4. Contact each of the three major credit bureaus on your child's behalf every quarter
5. Contact the Social Security Administration on your child's behalf at least once per year
6. Involve your local authorities if you feel your child has been victimized
7. Consider a proactive identity theft solution provider for your entire family
8. Help curb child identity theft by sharing these tips with other parents

Eliminate non-essential disclosure of your child's social security number
A social security number is the single most dangerous piece of information in the hands of an identity thief. With your child's social security number an identity thief potentially has the ability to open lines of credit in your child's name.

You should only provide this information when it is absolutely necessary. Anytime anyone asks you to provide your child's social security number ask the following questions:

• Why is my child's social security number required?
• How will my child's social security number be used?
• Who will have access to my child's social security number?
• Where will my child's social security number be stored?

If the requestor is not able to provide you with sufficient answers to these questions then it is best to decline to provide this information.

It is also a good idea to store your child's social security card in a safe place such as a locked file cabinet, safe or safety deposit box. You should never let your child have direct access to their social security card as it is too easy for it to be misplaced and end up in the wrong hands.

Monitor your child's postal mail

If credit card offers, late payment notices or other suspicious financial items show up addressed to your underage child don't assume they are simply mistakes by the sender. Your minor child should never receive:

• Offers of credit from lenders of any kind including credit card companies, mortgage lenders or student loans.
• Bills, past due or collections notices for any type of financial or other type of account
• Social Security Administration account statements

If you do receive these types of communications, or any other suspicious looking mail, in your child's name follow up with the company or agency that sent them to determine the reason they were sent in the first place.

If there are unauthorized financial accounts (or any type of account that was not legitimately opened) in your child's name then it is likely your child has fallen victim to identity theft. Notify the company where the account is held as well as all three of the credit bureaus (see point #4 below) and your local police department (see point #6 below).
Limit the amount of personal information that is available about your child on the Internet

The Internet is a great tool to communicate with friends and family, but it is also a great source for identity thieves to mine personal information about your child. Never post any personal information about your child, such as date of birth or address, on any website (especially not any website that is publicly available or doesn't have password protection).

If your child is old enough to access the Internet on their own, make sure you monitor their usage as well. Many websites such as MySpace, Facebook and others make it very easy for children to post vast amounts of personal information about themselves.

Also, make sure you discuss the various dangers of openly communicating personal information to strangers on the Internet with your children. They are never too young to start practicing safe Internet usage.
Contact each of the three major credit bureaus on your child's behalf every quarter
None of the three major credit bureaus, which include Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, maintain credit files on anyone under the age of 18. If your underage child has a credit file with one of the bureaus that potentially means they have been victimized.

We recommend that parents request a credit report on behalf of their child from each of the three credit bureaus once per quarter.

Here are instructions on how to contact Experian, Equifax and TransUnion on your child's behalf:

Experian
Phone Number: (888) 397-3742
Website: http://www.experian.com
Address to send inquiries about child Identity Theft:
Experian
PO Box 9532
Allen , TX 75013

How to request a review of your child's credit file from Experian:

Parents are required to mail in documentation that prooves they are the legal guardian of the child. An example of sufficient documentation is a child's birth certificate and a copy of the parent's driver's license.

If no credit file exists for the child then Experian will send written notification by mail. This is good news because it means your child's identity has not been compromised.

If a credit file does exist then Experian will send a copy of the credit file to the parent. This means that it is likely your child's identity has been stolen. The parent may then dispute any fraudulent items on their child's credit file. Experian will also place a credit lock on the child's credit file so that no additional credit may be extended to them until they turn 18 years old.

Equifax
Phone Number: (800) 658-1111
Website: http://www.equifax.com
Address to send inquiries about child Identity Theft:
Equifax
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta , GA 30348

How to request a review of your child's credit file from Equifax:

Parents are required to mail in documentation that prooves they are the legal guardian of the child. An example of sufficient documentation is a child's birth certificate and a copy of the parent's driver's license. If a record is found Equifax will erase any fraudulent accounts and remove the credit file from their system and flag the child's social security number as belonging to a minor. Equifax does not provide copies of the child's credit report to parents.

TransUnion
Phone Number: (800) 916-8800
Website: http://www.transunion.com
Address to send inquiries about child Identity Theft:
Trans Union PO Box 6790
Fullerton , CA 92834

How to request a review of your child's credit file from TransUnion:

TransUnion has set up a special email address for parents to use in order to request their child's credit report. Parents can send an email to childidtheft@transunion.com. TransUnion will then send back instructions on how to request a credit report. If a credit report does exist then TransUnion will lock the child's credit file until they turn 18 years old.

It is important to remember that contacting just one of the credit bureaus is not sufficient protection because many lenders only report to one or two of the credit bureaus. So, for example, if only Experian is contacted and a lender that has extended credit to an identity thief pretending to be your child only reports that credit to Equifax and TransUnion, you would not be alerted.

Keeping up with all three bureaus each quarter, or twelve total inquiries per year, can be a lot of work but it is extremely important. It can be overwhelming and that is why we strongly suggest that parents consider protecting their families with and identity protection service such as LifeLock, which does most of the work for you (see point #7 below).

Contact the Social Security Administration on your child's behalf at least once per year

The social security administration can be reached by phone at (800) 772-1213 and will be able to provide you with any records attached to your child's social security number.

Your minor child should not have any work history associated with their social security number. If they do, it is likely that someone is fraudulently using it to gain employment. If your child has a work permit and does have a valid work history, make sure the employers match up business where your child has been employed.

Keep in mind that it is possible for identity thieves to use your child's social security number without using their name. Since the Social Security administration uses a number and name matching system their check would not catch this type of identity theft.

Involve your local authorities if you feel your child has been victimized

If you believe that your child has become a victim of identity thieves then make sure to file a report with your local police department immediately. This report will help you and your child recover from the identity theft incident.

Without a police report it may be difficult to prove that some of the fraudulent charges were no perpetrated by a third party and you may, in the worst case scenario,

be held financially liable. Additionally, based off of the police report all three major credit bureaus will amend or erase the fraudulent information on your child's credit report.

If you don't know how to contact your local police department simply dial directory assistance and ask for the non emergency telephone number for the local police.

Consider a proactive identity theft solution provider for your entire family

Protecting your children from identity theft is an extremely important but time consuming job. It is possible to keep up with all the aspects of this important task, but we strongly recommend that most parents consider using an identity theft protection service to keep their child's identity safe and secure.

We have reviewed all of the major identity theft protection services and have found that only one, LifeLock, provides extensive identity theft protection for children.

LifeLock checks your child's credit file at each of the major credit bureaus and their account with the social security administration multiple times per year. If any fraudulent activity is detected LifeLock will place fraud alerts on your child's credit report and flag them as being associated with a minor child.

The service is extremely economical at less than $2.00 per month and will save you hours of work and research. It also gives you peace of mind that a professional organization that is focused on proactive identity theft protection, and well versed in its protection, is safeguarding your children.

In order to enroll your child in LifeLock one or more parents must also be a member of the service. We strongly recommend this service for all members of your family.

Help curb child identity theft by sharing these tips with other parents

Unfortunately, child identity theft will likely be a growing risk for years to come. As a parent you have the opportunity to not only help protect your own children from being victimized, but other children as well.

To that end, please help us curb the threat of child identity theft by telling every parent you know about this guide.

To learn more about protecting your identity on Facebook, see our Facebook Identity Theft Protection Guide. And if you are a parent who is concerned about protecting your child's identity on the Internet, you may be interested in our Child Identity Theft Protection Guide.

Children can be particularly susceptible to identity theft. See our Child Identity Theft Protection Guide for 8 tips on how to protect your children from becoming victims. And if you are interested in an identity theft protection service, see our reviews and comparison.

"While identity theft is a serious risk for any individual, college students are particularly susceptible," said NextAdvisor.com Associate Editor Caitlin Podiak. "The lifestyle of a typical college student creates additional risks, but many students are completely unaware of this issue."

NextAdvisor.com's student identity theft protection (http://www.nextadvisor.com/identity_theft_protection_services/index.php) guide strives to raise students' awareness of the risks and consequences of identity theft. It explains how certain habits common among college students can lead to identity theft and provides clear and straightforward advice on how to mitigate the danger. NextAdvisor.com emphasizes the importance of safeguarding sensitive personal information, and breaks down what that entails. The guide also encourages young adults to give some consideration to their credit history and to take responsibility for their finances.

"For most students, these things are not even on their radar," says Podiak. "But it's essential that they become more informed as they strike out on their own."

Another issue addressed by this guide is the false sense of security that students may feel within the confines of a college campus, as well as on the Internet, and social networking websites in particular.

NextAdvisor.com's student identity theft protection guide is available for free by visiting:

http://www.nextadvisor.com/blog/2009/10/06/student-identity-theft-protection-guide/

About NextAdvisor.com:

NextAdvisor.com is the trusted, independent source for comparing the most valuable new services. The company's mission is to help consumers save money and improve their lives by presenting them with useful comparisons and reviews of service providers and a clear explanation of each service and how it works. The company currently reviews, compares and explains many different types of services including credit report monitoring (http://www.nextadvisor.com/credit_report_monitoring/index.php), identity theft protection, voice over IP (http://www.nextadvisor.com/voip_services/index.php), diet plans, Internet security software, remote desktop access, savings accounts, DVD rental and movie download, online education, online tax preparation and online backup. Learn more at http://www.nextadvisor.com.

"Our research shows that parents don't realize just how serious a problem child identity theft is in the United States," said Joe Fahrner, NextAdvisor.com's Vice President of Research. "Children now represent a significant portion of the overall identity theft victims in the United States and that number is growing at an alarming rate. There needs to be better awareness about child identity theft prevention."

According to the FTC 5 percent of the 255,000 victims of identity theft in 2005, the most recent year for which data is currently available, were under the age of 18. The number of children victimized by identity theft has increased 40 percent since 2003.

The 'Child Identity Theft Protection Guide' is available for free on NextAdvisor.com's website and provides daily, quarterly and annual steps that parents can take to protect their children.

Among the useful information included in the guide are instructions on how to check the status of a child's credit file with each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. Since none of the credit bureaus maintain files on minors the check should come back negative. NextAdvisor recommends parents check with each of the credit bureaus once per quarter for the existence of a credit file in their child's name.

"Our Child Identity Theft Protection Guide is all about awareness," said Fahrner. "We are trying to help make it easier for parents to protect their children."

Parents can read the 'Child Identity Theft Protection Guide' for free by visiting http://www.nextadvisor.com/identity_theft_protection_services/child_identity_theft_protection_guide.php?kw=rls1 or by clicking on the link on NextAdvisor's home page at http://www.nextadvisor.com/

About NextAdvisor

NextAdvisor.com is the trusted, independent source for comparing the most valuable new Internet services. The company's mission is to help consumers save money and improve their lives by presenting them with useful comparisons and reviews of service providers and a clear explanation of each service and how it works.

NextAdvisor.com selects service areas to evaluate based on many factors but the primary criterion is value to the consumer. The company currently reviews, compares and explains many different types of internet services including credit report and monitoring, identity theft protection, voice over ip, diet plans, DVD rental and movie download, online education, online tax preparation and online backup.