How to Protect Your Child From Identity Theft

Every child needs to be protection from child identity theft. In the United States a social security number is given to every child at birth. Because very few of them every use it until they reach the age of 18, those social security numbers and identities that are associated with them, are very attractive to identity thieves. So it's essential that you do everything necessary to protect your child from identity theft.

Children are increasingly becoming the targets of identity thieves because there's such a large span of time between the time they get a social security number and the time they actually try to use it for something. More and more 18 to 20 year olds are applying for their first car loan, applying for student loans, or even applying for jobs and apartments, and being denied because they have a terrible credit rating - even though they've never applied for credit before.
Here are some things you can do to prevent child identity theft:

• Caution your child not to give out any personal information on the internet.
• Keep their social security card locked away and shred anything with his number on it.
• Be suspicious of credit offers sent to your child. When you receive them, notify the credit bureau and check to see if someone is using your child's identity.
• Check with the Social Security Administration periodically to make sure no one is using your child's information to submit fraudulent claims.
• Regularly check with all three credit reporting agencies to make sure no one is using your child's identity to get credit somewhere.

Until your child reaches the age of 18, you are the only person who can really protect them from child identity theft. You need to be just as diligent about your child's personal information as you are your own and take just as many precautions.

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