Protecting Your Children from Identity Theft

Most parents will do anything to protect their children from known threats, but some may overlook a child’s identity and financial security. Identity theft reports for those 19 years old and younger made up 2% of all reports in 2023.¹ Thieves retrieve this information from stolen documents, data breaches, or phishing scams. Having a child’s identity stolen can make it difficult for them to get approved for employment, loans, or even housing as an adult. Learn more about how to protect your children now and into adulthood.

Secure Sensitive Information

As a parent, you’re often flooded with forms to fill out for school, filing taxes, doctor’s appointments, and more. If an organization asks for your child’s Social Security Number (SSN), make sure to ask them how they will use it and how they will keep it safe. Store their physical SSN card, birth certificate, and other physical documents with your child’s information in a locked cabinet or safe. If you need to discard any documents that contain this information, shred it before throwing it away.

Educate & Closely Monitor Online Activity

Under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), parents have control over what information websites can collect from their children. This means that websites, ad networks, plug-ins, and other third parties should request permission to collect information, but parents still need to monitor online activity closely to keep personal information secure. Set parental controls for online devices and teach your children rules about online safety. These rules include setting strong passwords and not sharing accounts or information online.

If your child is on social media or gaming websites, make sure they’re not sharing too much personal information. When setting up profiles for these sites, do not let your child use any part of their name, address, school, or other identifiable information. In order to comply with COPPA, birthdates under 18 years old are generally required to ensure the companies don’t treat your child like an adult, but they don’t necessarily need to be your child’s own birthdate. Use avatars instead of personal photos. Turn off or unplug webcams while gaming online. And remember that most social media sites have a way to block users that appear suspicious or threatening. Talk to your children and make sure they feel safe about reporting anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. For more information on protecting your kids online, including safeguarding from cyberbullying and other online threats, read this complete guide from Security.org.²  

Warning Signs of Identity Theft

If you receive pre-approved credit card offers in the mail for your child, that is a red flag. Children do not have a credit history and should not have an active credit file to be eligible for these offers. If a government agency denies you benefits because they say you’re already receiving them, your child’s SSN may have been stolen. If you receive a letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about not filing taxes or notices about unpaid bills, then your child may have been a victim of identity theft. To file a report that someone used your child’s SSN to file taxes, complete the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit (Form 14039) or call 1-800-908-4490.

What to Do if You Suspect Fraud

Most children under 18 do not have a credit report, but the three main credit bureaus can open and immediately freeze their reports if a parent requests it. Placing a credit lock or freeze prevents any credit reporting agency from releasing their information to third parties. It also requires the parent to prove the identity of the child and prevents anyone from opening an account in the child’s name. Use the links below to contact each credit bureau to request information about minors:

•    Experian
•    Equifax
•    Transunion

If you suspect an account has been fraudulently opened, take screenshots and other documentation and contact that business to file a report. Ask the business to provide written confirmation of the steps they took to keep a record that your child wasn’t the one responsible. You can also report identity theft and learn how to recover your child’s identity at www.identitytheft.gov.

Keeping Your Family’s Information Safe

Besides protecting your child’s personal information from identity theft, it’s important to make sure all devices that can be accessible online are secure. If you’re considering identity theft protection services, research services and how they keep your information safe. Review a list from NerdWallet³ of the most commonly used services in 2024. Learn more tips about fraud prevention in Preventing Online Fraud and in other articles on our blog.  

¹ Identity Theft Reports by Age from the Federal Trade Commission. 
² A Parent’s Guide to Protecting Their Kids Online from Security.org.
³ Best Identity Theft Protection Services 2024: How They Compare from NerdWallet.com. 

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