Because a child isnt likely to need a good credit rating for many years to come, child identity theft can go on for years without anyone noticing. The information can then be used to open credit accounts in your name or receive benefits, such as employment, insurance or housing. Mar 16, 2020 child identity theft is the fastest growing type of identity theft, a crime that affects some 10 million people annually. Credit scores understand credit scores, creditworthiness, and how credit scores are used in daytoday life. Child identity theft is something all parents need to be alert for, says eva velasquez, president of the identity theft resource center. Child identity theft when a thief opens accounts using a childs social security number. Protect your child from backtoschool identity theft black. What every parent needs to know, sometimes jots down names, insurance information and other bits and pieces as he listens in those. Scam of the day april 5, 2019 law enforcement busts. Never too young to have your identity stolen the new. Synthetic identity theft is the fabrication of a new identity using partial information from an existing identity. The federal trade commission, the government agency that accepts identity fraud complaints, received more than 11,600 identity theft. Our consumer protection forms help you handle common consumer matters, like writing a demand letter and canceling a contract. As a college student, she once again found herself a victim of the crime.
Consumer protection identity theft prevention legal forms. This book is a hand guide for parents who want to make sure they are doing everything possible to keep their child s financial future protected from the threat of identity theft. Now an expert in identity theft, shes dedicated her life to understanding the intricacies of the motivations, consequences, and nuances of the crime. Child identity theft is a growing and expensive problem. Child identity theft is the fastest growing type of identity theft, a crime that affects some 10 million people annually. I suppose we have all heard about identity theft, but when i saw this book about child identity theft and noticed it was written by a decorated officer who has worked extensively in this area, it caught my attention. Send a followup letter and include your child s ftc identity theft report and a copy of your child s birth certificate. This one works pretty well as a standalone, though, so if youre new to the series like me, dont worry too much about just jumping in at this point. Victims of identity theft, 2014 presents findings on the prevalence and nature of identity theft from the 2014 identity theft supplement to the national crime victimization survey. Oct 17, 2019 i wanted to understand the psychology behind identity theft, so i got a phd from iowa state and wrote my dissertation on the lasting effects of child identity theft. Nov 26, 20 even scarier, child identity theft goes beyond credit card fraud. Child identity theft is a huge problem because it can go undetected for years. Children have to worry about identity theft, too smart.
Axton betzhamiltons new book the less people know about us reveals how her mom, pam, stole her identity when she was 19. Consumer protection identity theft prevention legal. May 01, 2018 and some child identity theft is committed by family members or close associates with access to a childs information. To find out if your child has a credit report, request a manual search for your child s social security number. Identity theft financial literacy in public libraries. We discovered the laws to protect kids from identity theft in most of the country are much stronger the ones on the books here in minnesota. Child identity theft is on the rise two child identity. Thieves may even create a consumer by blending a childs social security number with a different name, address and birthdate, a practice called synthetic identity theft. Often, child identity theft isnt detected until a kid is a teenager, and by then, the damage is done, says robert p. Child identity theft has become a big problem in recent years. Robert takes the reader on a guided tour of all of the known issues that a child identity theft case can have, and provides clear, accurate, timely guidance so the parent.
What to do when your social security number or personal information have been stolen. Enrolling your child in school means youll be required to provide sensitive information such as a bill to prove residency, a social security card or birth certificate, and medical records. You can read more about these and other types of identity theft, including employment identity theft and senior identity theft. Click on any title below to see what that book or form specifically covers. Robert p chappell identity theft is a growing problem around the world, and criminals are not above stealing a childs identity. Get the facts about child identity theft to protect your little ones personal information.
Send a followup letter and include your childs ftc identity theft report and a copy of your childs birth certificate. This book provides helpful ways to avoid child identity theft, as well as steps to clear any occurrences of identity theft. Two involved child identity theft for financial cybercrime and the other involved identity theft on social media for cyberbullying. Robert takes the reader on a guided tour of all of the known issues that a child identity theft case can have, and provides clear, accurate, timely guidance so the parent can clear their childs name and restore. Jul 21, 2007 child identity theft is a growing problem in the united states. Foster children are at particular risk, because so many adults are involved. What every parent needs to know about child identity theft book. Identity theft occurs when someone gets or steals your personal information. Identity theft is when thieves steal your personal information in order to take over or open new accounts, file fake tax returns, rent or buy properties, or do other criminal things in your name. Freezing your childs credit will keep a criminal from opening credit in your childs name, but it doesnt protect your child from identity. One study says 1 in 10 children have someone else using their social security number. According to javelin strategy and research, a million american children became victims of identity theft last year at a cost of 2. Identity theft may impact your credit reports and credit scores.
Child identity theft las vegasclark county library. Often a family member or friend is responsible, but strangers are also threats. Each year more than 500,000 children are affected by identity theft half of them under age six. As a child, betzhamiltons family suffered through the repercussions of identity theft. The best books about identity theft and deception novel. To find out if your child has a credit report, request a manual search for your childs social security number.
As a grandparent and employee in a school system, i am in awe of the information contained in this book for the safekeeping of children. This easy to understand ebook contains detailed information about each one of the steps you should take if you are a victim of identity theft. Children are prime targets of identity thieves who, if they are able to get. When children are victims of identity theft twentyone states have passed laws that allow parents or guardians to freeze their childs credit record. Top 25 amazon books on everything identity theft best company. Identity theft cases are becoming more common, especially among kids. Child identity theft is a growing problem in the united states. Also, our identity theft kit provides essential recovery steps should you become the unfortunate victim of an identity thief.
Child identity theft is the fastest growing form of id theft and its the one thats least understood. What every parent needs to know is an invaluable resource for parents, grandparents, and teachers. The identity theft recovery guide book tells you how to notify the irs when your social security number has been misused. Kids clean credit histories make it easy for criminals to make new charges, open accounts and more.
Identity theft learn what you can do to help better protect your information, and what you should be looking for when it comes to identity theft. How to protect your kids and their future credit from. Never too young to have your identity stolen the new york times. Countless other cases go unreported because the thief is a relative or parent of the victim. How to prevent child identity theft scholastic parents. Protecting our children is second nature to most parents. Yes, unsavory folks want to get their hands on your childs social security number, but theyll settle for his name and address, too and that info lets them give the cops a false name if they get arrested, get medical care without insurance, or a fake id in order to work. Identity theft free publications to share bulkorder. For example, the thief might create a new person using a real social security number but someone elses name and birth date. Identity theft is my first exposure to bob aveys fourbook detective kenny elliot mystery series.
What every parent needs to know about child identity theft. Mar 29, 2014 child identity theft can be a bigger problem than other forms of identity theft because it can go unnoticed for years. Protect your child from backtoschool identity theft. Child identity theft multnomah county library overdrive. Children have to worry about identity theft, too smart news. Child identity theft, presented in a question and answer format, will help parents and. Identity theft poses extra troubles for children the new. She has written 10 books and more than 2,500 articles for a wide variety of national and international. Nov 02, 2015 when children are victims of identity theft twentyone states have passed laws that allow parents or guardians to freeze their childs credit record. A wallet card law enforcers and others can use to remind people to report identity theft at identitytheft. A must read for every parent and grandparent should read this book. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Here, a veteran law enforcement professional and expert in child identity theft offers parents, educators, law enforcement officials, and others who care for or work with children an inside look at the ways in which children are vulnerable to identity thieves.
1027 1013 1047 172 893 712 1211 464 1481 88 277 406 1031 511 672 1211 1600 579 1419 261 1058 1291 960 1041 148 504 1062 108 207 608 1245 1224 8 788 435 1000 666 330 602 193 1249 933 93 749