Child ID Theft: Protect Your Child

When I became a mother, I knew a fierce, protective love that I never dreamed even existed.  I wanted my son to have every advantage he needed to have a happy and secure life.  I never dreamed that something as seemingly innocuous as taking out a term life insurance policy for him would lead to child ID theft and put his future at risk. 

Of course, I knew about things such as financial and internet identity theft.  I even knew someone who found out they had been a victim of social security identity theft when they were audited by the IRS for failing to report part of their income, and it turned out to be income reported by someone else under their social security number.  It just never occurred to me that a child could be at risk.  Here are some things I learned about child identity theft that will help you protect your child’s identity.

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·         Why would someone want to steal a child’s identity?

·         How does Child Identity theft take place?

·         How you can safeguard your child’s identity?

Why would someone want to steal a child’s identity?

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the US.  Though I was very careful to protect my personal information, I never had a clue that my child was at risk for this crime as well.  Child identity theft protection is as important as protecting your own identity.  The thing that thieves find so attractive about the identity of a child is that it is the perfect identity tabula rasa—a blank slate.  It gives the thief a fresh start.  With just a little information such as date of birth, social security number, and name it is possible to create a credit profile from scratch, and run up purchases for which you never have to be truly responsible. Perhaps the most attractive part is there is very little chance of discovery until the child becomes working age and gets a job and starts attempting to establish credit of his or her own.

How does Child Identity theft take place?

Sadly, most cases of identity theft are perpetrated by someone close to the child such as a friend or relative, but it really is a simple matter to obtain the necessary information anyplace such records are kept such as pediatrician offices or any place you share your child’s information such as savings accounts or insurance companies.  Some of the very things you do to insure your child’s future can put him at risk for identity theft.

How you can safeguard your child’s identity?

Child identity theft protection is not as difficult as you might think.  Basically do the same things you would to safeguard your own identity by not sharing personal information, safely storing ID cards when you are not using them, and taking advantage of identity protection services such as those available at Legal-yogi.  You can begin by filling out the no-obligation forms provided on their website to get all the information you need to decide if their services are right for you, and get the ball rolling to insure that your child’s identity and future is protected 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.