The Growing Dangers of Child Id Theft

Have you checked your child's credit score this year? Did you check it last year? Have you ever done a credit score check on your children? Most likely the answer is no, and you might even be unaware of the threat of child id theft.

Why does this happen?

Why would an adult want to steal a child's identification? If a criminal can access a child's social security number, they can begin a crime spree that can last for years right under your nose. Children have always been targets for various crimes, but criminals often use children's ids between the ages of 5 and 15 because it is so easy to get away with. With the stolen social security number they can open credit card accounts, take out loans, buy expensive items like cars and boats, and even purchase homes and pay taxes under an assumed identity. This crime often goes undiscovered for years until the child becomes an adult and begins attempting to use their own credit which by then has been ruined. You can help prevent the theft and use of your child's identification by doing the following.

• Do a credit check of your children at least once a year.
• Criminals often pose as legitimate state or school officials in order to get your child's identification information. Don't hesitate to thoroughly question anyone who asks for your child's social security number.
• Keep important items like birth certificates and tax information locked away somewhere safe.
• Monitor what your children are doing online. Consider the internet a pirate’s cove for criminal activity where both you and your children should tread carefully.

Protection is up to you

Parents will often discover their children are victims of identity theft when they move into adulthood and go to take out that first student loan and are denied. Sometimes it is earlier when they are applying for a loan to help finance a car. These crimes have lasting effects. Credit Bureaus don't necessarily have to practice leniency towards people who are victims of identity theft. In this world you are responsible for protecting your identity, and have the ability to run a credit check regularly. Consider it your obligation.


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Statistics don't lie

Criminals are increasingly targeting children. In the past few years there have been roughly 60,000 cases of child id theft reported to the three major credit bureaus. Ten percent of all children in the United States will become a victim. The tech savvy criminal can hack into your home computer remotely in search of tax documents with your child's social security number on it. They will also target local hospitals, schools, and even child-welfare agencies. A thief will often use the social security number along with different name and birth date. Credit reports unfortunately attach names and birthdates to scores, so you might not even discover the crime initially on the credit check.

This crime could happen to your family and you might never be able to catch the thief and file identity theft criminal charges. It is in your best interest to visit www.legal-yogi.com to learn more about identity theft. They have access to agencies around the country who can help. Call them any time at 1-800-397-1755.

Don’t let Your Child become a Victim of Identity Theft

The last time you checked your credit score did you take a moment to check your children’s score as well? Have you ever done a credit check on your children? If the answer is no, you are among the majority of parents who never even think to check their credit score and for obvious reasons. Most children don’t have credit cards, and aren’t even thinking about their credit. Therefore they probably have no score to worry about. Criminals know this however, and a child is a potential target for identity theft.

• Child identity theft is a growing crime. Children are targets of all sorts of crimes, but this one can be done covertly for years without anyone knowing.
• If someone is able to steal your child’s social security number they can open up bank accounts, start up multiple credit cards, take out loans and buy property.
• This crime can go on and on for years. You and your children will have no idea it is happening until your child goes to start a credit card or take a loan for school and get denied for a poor credit history.
• You can help protect your children by doing a free credit report once a year for everyone in the family.

Who wants a credit score?

As adults we have an understanding that a credit score is important. We find creative ways to improve our score through the use of low interest credit cards, loans, and mortgages. Our spending habits and debt repayment plans are closely monitored by credit bureaus and if we are responsible and handle our debts well we are rewarded with a higher score. This allows us better deals with lending companies to further our financial interests. Our children don’t have much interest in credit scores themselves, but criminals have an interest in tapping into our children’s untapped credit potential.

A crime you can’t see

Child id theft is often accomplished through the acquisition by a criminal of a social security number. Although this number is attached to us from birth for government tracking purposes, on a credit score the number isn’t always directly associated with our name. This means that when a company does a credit check they might see credit actions that affect your score that are actually tied to someone else! Unfortunately according to the privacy guidelines set forth by credit bureaus they are not allowed to tell you this. That means you should probably hire professional help to take a look at your score and tell you for sure if you are becoming a victim of fraud.

Be aware of a criminal’s hiding spots

Child identity theft protection involves several things you may not have considered. Run a credit check once a year for your whole family. Scam artists often pose as school officials over the phone and will ask you for your child’s social security number. As your child’s school is probably the most often place where this information is passed, it is not uncommon for criminals to attempt to breach this sanctuary and extract these identification numbers. Thoroughly question anyone who asks for this information.

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You can learn more about identity theft and the threat to your children at www.legal-yogi.com. Visit their website today or call to speak with a representative at 1-800-397-1755.