{"id":25437,"date":"2022-02-15T16:02:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T00:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=25437"},"modified":"2024-05-24T12:24:44","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T20:24:44","slug":"child-identity-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/child-identity-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Child Identity Theft? Everything Parents Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>This article was updated in March 2024 by Cyrus Grant.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick thought experiment:&nbsp; take a moment to visualize the perfect victim for identity theft.&nbsp; Who do you picture?&nbsp; The high roller with more dollars than sense, overflowing with credit cards and unexamined bank statements?&nbsp; The isolated senior with sterling credit, a lifetime of savings, and increasing cognitive difficulties?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it\u2019s true that scammers will cheerfully pillage either of those people, you\u2019re overlooking a demographic that offers lots of scope for long-term fraud: children.&nbsp; Child identity fraud <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bulkorder.ftc.gov\/system\/files\/publications\/825a_child_idt_what_to_know_wtd.pdf\">is a huge and growing problem<\/a>, one that\u2019s often harder to detect than fraud perpetrated against an adult.&nbsp; Here\u2019s how it happens, and what to do about it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Child Identity Theft?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s pretty self-explanatory, but let\u2019s break it down.&nbsp; Identity theft is when a criminal steals someone&#8217;s private information , and then uses that information in a fraudulent way (often for some financial gain).&nbsp; Child identity theft is the exact same, except with the added level of moral hollowness that comes with targeting literal children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Common uses of child identity theft include things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Taking out fraudulent loans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Opening bank accounts and credit cards under the child\u2019s name.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gaining illegal employment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Applying for government benefits such as unemployment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Filing fraudulent tax returns in order to keep tax returns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blending the child\u2019s private information&nbsp; with fictitious details to build a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/what-is-synthetic-identity-theft\/\">synthetic identity<\/a>.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Identity Thieves Target Children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Identity thieves often try to take advantage of their victims\u2019 credit or fraudulently drain their savings.&nbsp; So, why would they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fico.com\/blogs\/how-protect-your-children-identity-fraud\">target kids<\/a>, who typically don\u2019t have either of those things?&nbsp; The answer is simple: it\u2019s about their Social Security number.&nbsp; What makes a child\u2019s SSN extra appealing is the fact that they typically go unused until the first time a person goes looking for a job.&nbsp; That\u2019s usually a lot of years after the number is issued, which gives scammers plenty of time to get their money\u2019s worth from it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With data breaches pumping hundreds of millions of records into the shady online marketplaces of the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/difference-between-deep-web-and-dark-web-2\/\">dark web<\/a>,\u201d plus all of the other ways private information can go astray, it\u2019s not hard for criminals to buy or steal kids\u2019 SSNs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/v0CaMRvpbz4FIfAJ_SoaSuHLthqjj8Hh0aaWc0losgFB-NlkWgrVvn_UCEETTYNX7SB5VMMNF3wVE5vEzEhLDQpOaiS1SfOAek5iUR3EkJUqTmrGY-93h8DLFaXiaywgyNonNNnLXyKttB7aVUhokrs\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Detect Child Identity Theft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to detecting if your child\u2019s SSN has been compromised, there are a few ways to stay vigilant.&nbsp; If for some reason you think there has been a compromise in your child\u2019s private information, you can reach out to the major credit-reporting agencies.&nbsp; If they have a file corresponding to your minor child\u2019s SSN, and there\u2019s no reason you know of for such a file to exist, then something\u2019s wrong.&nbsp; Another option is to occasionally search your child\u2019s name \u2014 and phone number and email address, if they\u2019re a bit older \u2014 with Spokeo\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/\">people search tools<\/a> to give you some early warning that your kid has a fraudulent adult counterpart (Note: Spokeo\u2019s data only relates to US adults 18 and older, so you won\u2019t find any data actually pertaining to your child on Spokeo.&nbsp; Rather, this approach will only help you possibly identify if someone is using your child\u2019s info to create a fraudulent or synthetic identity.&nbsp; Even then, keep in mind that names by themselves are usually not unique, so a social media profile using a name that happens to match your child\u2019s doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that your child has been a victim of identity theft.).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other red flags that can alert child identity theft:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Collection agencies asking for your child.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Credit cards or pre-approval offers in the mail with your child\u2019s name.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An IRS alert that your child has already been claimed as a dependent on someone else\u2019s return.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mail from the IRS or SSA addressed to your child.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The very worst way to uncover child identity fraud is when your child comes of age and needs to open an account, apply for jobs and rentals, or get a driver\u2019s license or student loan.&nbsp; All of these normal rites of passage become infinitely more complicated if someone else\u2019s problematic 12- or 15-year credit history is attached to your child\u2019s SSN.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Ways Child Identity Theft Happens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no shortage of ways criminals have schemed up to commit identity theft, however, there are certain methods that are used more often than others.&nbsp; When it comes to knowing how your child\u2019s identity might be vulnerable, be on the lookout for these common forms of identity theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Familiar Fraud (aka Familial Fraud)&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While we\u2019d like to think identity theft is committed by faceless criminals, the hard truth is that people close to the child have the most opportunity to do this.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.malwarebytes.com\/blog\/news\/2020\/03\/child-identity-theft-part-1-on-familiar-fraud\">\u201cfamiliar\u201d identity theft<\/a>, because it\u2019s perpetrated by someone within the family circle.&nbsp; That might be a parent, a caregiver, a member of the extended family or even just a friend or neighbor.&nbsp; These are all people who have, or might conceivably be able to gain access to the child\u2019s personal information.&nbsp; Often <a href=\"https:\/\/files.eric.ed.gov\/fulltext\/EJ1280029.pdf\">they\u2019ll rationalize their actions<\/a>, and persuade themselves their fraud is justified or appropriate, but it\u2019s a betrayal by any objective standard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phishing Scams&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/help.spokeo.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/4415104347795-What-is-phishing-and-what-should-I-do-if-I-receive-a-suspicious-email\">Phishing scams<\/a> will appear at the top of pretty much any modern scam list.&nbsp; While people of all ages may be a quick and mindless click away from being duped by a phishing scam, criminals know that children are even easier targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because kids are increasingly online (and rarely supervised), scammers have begun targeting children with phishing scams through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/beware-these-7-new-social-media-scams\/\">social media<\/a> and other commonly visited online spaces.&nbsp; Whether it\u2019s via the promise of some incentive, or just a fully fake link, scammers are successfully getting kids to click on links and give away personal information that criminals then use to commit child identity theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Data Breaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While moving into the digital world has brought an abundance of convenience, it hasn\u2019t arrived without some downsides.&nbsp; One of such downsides being the semi-often occurring data breach.&nbsp; We hear about it all the time in the news, and often shrug it off as \u201cprobably fine,\u201d but these data breaches are an absolute goldmine for identity thieves, especially when the data breach victim is an institution that has your child\u2019s SSN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once these companies are breached, a flood of private information is thrown on the dark web, and can be shopped around by criminals all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hacking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As safe as you can try and be, your child almost certainly has information online.&nbsp; Whether it\u2019s gaming accounts, online learning services, or social media, identity thieves have a number of targets when it comes to gaining access to private information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tough part when it comes to protecting your information from being compromised via hacking, is even if you set up a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/password-ideas-to-beat-hackers\/\">robust password<\/a> or two-factor authentication, skilled cyber-criminals can often find a crack somewhere, whether it\u2019s your fault or not.&nbsp; All this is to say, when it comes to all your accounts and online presence, exercise good internet safety practices, and stay alert to any fishy logins or alerts (but don\u2019t fall for the fake ones!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preventing Child Identity Theft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to prevent child identity theft is to take several proactive measures to reduce the likelihood of it happening.&nbsp; The first and most important is to lock down their credit with the three main reporting agencies.&nbsp; The process isn\u2019t the same as initiating a freeze for an adult, so you\u2019ll need to look at the instructions from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.equifax.com\/personal\/education\/identity-theft\/freezing-your-childs-credit-report-faq\/\">Equifax<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transunion.com\/credit-freeze\/credit-freeze-faq#freeze-other\">TransUnion<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.experian.com\/freeze\/form-minor-freeze.html\">Experian<\/a> separately.&nbsp; According to Eva Velasquez, the CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, it\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sas.com\/en_us\/news\/press-releases\/2020\/september\/sas-helps-promote-child-Identity-theft-awareness.html\">single biggest thing you can do<\/a> to protect your child from identity theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other useful measures include the following:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Securing your child\u2019s physical Social Security card<\/strong>.&nbsp; Don\u2019t carry it around with you, and don\u2019t leave it lying around the house either.&nbsp; Keep it in a safe in your home, or ideally a safe-deposit box at the bank.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Not giving your child\u2019s SSN unnecessarily<\/strong>.&nbsp; One of the reasons you might carry your child\u2019s Social Security card is for filling out forms.&nbsp; Often that field isn\u2019t mandatory \u2014 it\u2019s there for the asker\u2019s convenience \u2014 so feel free to question why they need it; and don\u2019t give it out without good reason.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Being mindful of other compromising materials<\/strong>.&nbsp; The physical Social Security card isn\u2019t the only place your child\u2019s SSN might be found.&nbsp; It can also show up on some correspondence (medical bills or insurance statements, perhaps) or on old devices that you\u2019re reselling or recycling.&nbsp; Any paperwork containing the SSN should be shredded or securely stored, and devices should be erased or destroyed.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dialing back your public social-media posts<\/strong>.&nbsp; Posting about our kids is one of the things parents do on social media, but you need to think hard about what you post and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/internet-safety-what-you-need-to-know-about-public-vs-private-social-media-accounts\/\">who can see it<\/a>.&nbsp; Stealing (or buying) a crucial piece of private information like a credit card or SSN is only part of acquiring a stolen identity.&nbsp; The more information you make publicly available about your child, the easier it may be for someone to steal your child\u2019s identity.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/man-in-white-shirt-carrying-girl-in-gray-shirt-Wr3comVZJxU\"><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/man-in-white-shirt-carrying-girl-in-gray-shirt-Wr3comVZJxU\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/hTrYdg6TvPhR3EePD6mukVoXNw2lPElEBQiOlLwyG2NzfXRFZqrsA0cWTQVqats48UuEMjQ8p2ONyfqAoMDYgd6icL6wS-Cqcl66gmoErgf7Pw9AsNmQdFOjAUo0Z8EEukIRK3Q0Jo3F8PYN4_Qj-5k\" width=\"624\" height=\"416\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What To Do If Your Child\u2019s Identity Has Been Stolen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In an ideal world we can stop the bad things before they happen.&nbsp; Sadly, we don\u2019t always get that luxury.&nbsp; Should you realize that your kid\u2019s identity has been compromised, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Directly contact the company(ies) where your child\u2019s identity was used and request the accounts be closed immediately.&nbsp; Be sure to follow up and confirm all accounts were closed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Report your case at the FTC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/identitytheft.gov\/\">IdentityTheft.gov<\/a> site, which will also walk you through creating a step-by-step recovery plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact all three major credit bureaus (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.equifax.com\/personal\/education\/identity-theft\/freezing-your-childs-credit-report-faq\/\">Equifax<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transunion.com\/credit-freeze\/credit-freeze-faq#freeze-other\">TransUnion<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.experian.com\/freeze\/form-minor-freeze.html\">Experian<\/a>) and alert them to the fraudulent activity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place a freeze on your child\u2019s credit with the credit bureaus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>File a police report.&nbsp; When a crime is committed, it\u2019s always best practice to file a report with your local law enforcement.&nbsp; That way should the culprit be caught, you\u2019ll have the option to press charges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reach out to the Social Security Administration to see if your child\u2019s SSN is being used elsewhere.&nbsp; Let them know about any fraud so they can assist you in changing your child\u2019s SSN if necessary.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to keep copies of all of your correspondence with each of these companies or agencies, in case of disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It\u2019s Just\u2026Parenting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Parenting is largely about protecting our kids until they\u2019re old enough to make their own decisions, so shielding them from identity theft is just one more aspect of parenting in the modern world.&nbsp; Preemptively locking down their SSN and credit files, talking with them about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/internet-safety-for-kids-beware-of-dangerous-popular-websites\/\">online safety<\/a> and oversharing (\u201csomeone you\u2019ve been messaging with for a month but never met in person is still a stranger\u2026\u201d), and maybe even installing an app that gives you some measure of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/us\/best-parental-control-apps,review-2258.html\">control over their devices<\/a> are all things to think about.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The day will come when you have to let them leave the nest and fly solo, but keeping a watchful eye on their identity in the meantime will help make that first flight a smooth one.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>FTC Identity Theft Resource Center: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bulkorder.ftc.gov\/publications\/child-identity-theft-what-know-what-do\">Child Identity Theft: What to know, What to do<\/a> (PDF)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MalwareBytes: <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.malwarebytes.com\/awareness\/2020\/03\/child-identity-theft-part-1-on-familiar-fraud\/\">Child Identity Theft, Part 1: On Familiar Fraud<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning: <a href=\"https:\/\/files.eric.ed.gov\/fulltext\/EJ1280029.pdf\">A Phenomenological Study on Parental Perpetrators of Child Identity Theft<\/a>; Axton Betz-Hamilton&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MalwareBytes: <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.malwarebytes.com\/awareness\/2020\/03\/child-identity-theft-part-2-how-to-reclaim-your-childs-identity\/\">Child Identity Theft, Part 2: How to Reclaim Your Child\u2019s Identity<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Equifax: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.equifax.com\/personal\/education\/identity-theft\/freezing-your-childs-credit-report-faq\/\">Freezing Your Child\u2019s Credit Report: FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>TransUnion: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transunion.com\/credit-freeze\/credit-freeze-faq#freeze-other\">Credit Freeze FAQ: Freeze a Loved One\u2019s Credit<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SAS\/Identity Theft Resource Center: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sas.com\/en_us\/news\/press-releases\/2020\/september\/sas-helps-promote-child-Identity-theft-awareness.html\">Child Identity Theft Revealed in Denied COVID-19 Benefits<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>IdentityTheft.gov: <a href=\"https:\/\/identitytheft.gov\/\">Report Identity Theft and Get a Recovery Plan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tom\u2019s Guide: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/us\/best-parental-control-apps,review-2258.html\">The Best Parental Control Apps for Android and iPhone 2024<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article was updated in March 2024 by Cyrus Grant.&nbsp; Here\u2019s a quick thought experiment:&nbsp; take a moment to visualize the perfect victim for identity theft.&nbsp; Who do you picture?&nbsp;&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":25438,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[810],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-identity"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Child Identity Theft: Is Your Child at Risk? | Spokeo<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Child identity theft is a large and growing problem, adding up to billions of dollars in losses. 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