What Is Child Identity Theft? (Explanation Inside!)

what is child identity theft

Child identity theft is something to ask about. Child identity theft happens when someone takes a child‘s sensitive personal information and uses it to commit fraud. They could use your child‘s Social Security number, date of birth, driver’s license number, or other identifying information.

If you think someone is using your children‘s information, you can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-. The FTC works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop and avoid them. For more information about child identity thefts, visit the NCSL’s website at http://www.ncsl.org.

How does child identity theft happen?

Child identity theft happens when someone uses a child‘s Social Security number to commit fraud. This could include opening bank and credit card accounts, taking out loans, and more.

Are children victims of identity theft?

The warning signs of identity theft and how a child‘s personal information can be compromised can be learned. More than 1.3 million children are victims of identity theft each year and 50% of those victims are under the age of 18. Learn how to protect your child from online predators.

What are identity theft crimes?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s personally identifying information, such as a person’s name, Social Security number, or date of birth, to commit a crime.

Identity theft is the most common type of crime in the U.S., and it’s estimated that more than one in five Americans has been the victim of identity theft.

How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft: What to Do If You’re Being Targeted by Someone Using Your Personal Information to Commit a Crime.

How many kids get their identity stolen?

More than 1 million children in the U.S. are victims of identity theft each year, according to a study by the Identity Theft Resource Center. The study, conducted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), estimated that 1.2 million of those children were victimized in 2016. That’s up from the previous year’s estimate of 890,000 victims, according to ITRC.

How do you check if child SSN has been stolen?

To make sure no one is using your child‘s Social Security number, you need to check with the Social Security Administration once a year. You need to check your child‘s credit report for free. It is possible to report fraud to the credit bureaus.

If you have a child who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder, it’s important to know that you can file a petition to have the child removed from the United States. The petition must be filed within 30 days of the date of birth. If the petition is not filed, the children will be returned to their parents.

Can a parent use their child’s SSN?

Legal guardians and parents have unrestricted access to their children‘s personal information. In many cases, a parent, a close relative, or a legal guardian might use the child‘s Social Security number, birth date, and/or driver’s license number in order to verify the identity of a child. If you suspect that your child has been the victim, you should immediately report the incident to your local law enforcement agency.

Can I put a pin on my child’s Social Security number?

An Identity Protection PIN is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from using your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to file a tax return. If you file a joint return with your spouse and dependents, they are eligible for an intellectual property PIN. If you don’t have one of these numbers, you’ll need to get one from the IRS.

What can happen if a child experiences online theft of personal information?

Children can be exposed to identity theft if they reveal too much personal information online. A child‘s stolen identity may not be noticed for years and could result in the child being unable to get a job, rent a home, or apply for a driver’s license, among other things.

Do identity thieves get caught?

The 2006 research shows that federal authorities arrest less than 1% of the criminals (one person in 700 identity theft suspects). Nearly 45% of violent crime and 16% of property crime are committed by people who have stolen someone else’s identity.

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