Identity Theft
Identity Theft: Monitoring Proactively before It Happens
Everyone is vulnerable when it comes to identity theft. Be wary as even children are at risk. Recently, thieves have begun to steal identities of kids for the obvious financial benefits. There is no singular mold of an identity thief – they come in all sizes, shapes and forms. It could be someone you trust that is close to your family or it could be a mysterious person with whom you’ve never had contact. Children have become a hot target since they are less likely to realize their identity has been stolen. The Federal Trade Commission has been active in their studies of identity theft and the results are both revealing and shocking. Incidents more than tripled between 2003 and 2006, a span of only three years. The number of cases rose from eight thousand five hundred to an astounding twenty-six thousand by 2006.
Kids are Vulnerable Prey
In the world of identity theft, children have a big, fat target on their backs. As most children know little about preserving his or her identity, thieves are easily excited over the prospects. It often takes years for children to learn of the theft, by which time the damage has been done. In many instances, the kids don’t find out until they apply to colleges and universities, seek credit, or try to gain employment. Sadly, family splits are often the cause of a child having his or her identity stolen. In divorces or break-ups, especially nasty ones, numerous cases of parents sinking beneath the standards of society to steal the identity of ones own kid have been documented.
Often times child identity theft is discovered when a kid has a savings account opened for the first time in his or her name. Other common instances in which one may learn of child identity theft occur when pre-approved credit cards offers, checks, bank statements, and/or invoices begin to come to your residence in the name of your child.
While getting a driver’s license is a rite of passage for many kids, a step in the direction of adulthood and a mark of growth, it is a discovery of identity theft for others. Some teenagers are denied their application to obtain a license when it is discovered that someone has already gotten a license using the child’s social security number.
While the identity thieves appear to be on the prowl and the conditions are worrisome, it is important to keep a cool head. There are many situations in which it may appear your child has been a victim of identity theft when that is not the case. Many companies mail pre-approved credit card applications and offers as your child grows up. It is important to be able to distinguish the difference between these relatively innocent offers against serious cases of theft. One such way to do this is to contact a major credit bureau to check if a credit report already exists under your kid’s name. Companies such as Equifax, Trans Union or Experian are all able to do this. If your child’s identity is still in tact, they will be able to tell you that your kid has no credit report.
It’s important to get all the facts the learn as much as possible about identity theft protection. In America alone, as many as ten million people per year report being victims of identity theft. In the event that you do find out that your child has had his or her identity stolen, it’s important to get in touch with the police as soon as possible. The sooner the police and proper officials are notified, the sooner they can begin working on the case. It’s absolutely necessary to approach the police with these important matters, whether it is you or your child who is the victim of identity theft. The first step in contacting the police to get the ball rolling in the investigation, and hopefully the last step is the perpetrators being caught for their crimes.
Possible Related Posts
What Experts Look For In A Best Identity Theft Insurance PlanHow To Report Identity TheftWhy An Identity Theft Resource Center Is Right For You
