‘It was not until Angela started getting calls from the collection agencies asking for hospital bill payment that it struck her. Upon a thorough check, she discovered a huge outstanding amount against her name and not to mention a bad credit report. Eventually, she found out that she was a victim of Child Identity Theft and now that she was 24, she has a huge credit against her social security account’. <br /> <br />You may be surprised to learn that hundreds of people across the US find themselves in similar situation like Angela, thanks to the hackers. These people are on a prowl for your child’s information, like their social security number and other details. Child Identity Theft has become a lucrative business since the last decade as the information is being used for opening fraudulent credit accounts, applying for loans, buying house/cars and lot more! <br /> <br />In case you’re wondering, how a child’s identity and social security number help these thieves; well, it offers them a clean slate, to begin with. As experts put it, the unblemished credit record helps them to remain under the hood and undetected for a long time. By the time you find out, it’s too late and you’ve already earned a bad credit name. <br /> <br />Identity thefts start with cyber-attacks and data breaches. Digital security experts claim that these hackers look for infected computers to access specific details of the users like tax and health records that usually contain a child’s social security number. <br /> <br />So, is there a way to protect your child from Identity theft? Well, it never hurts to take precautions! <br /> <br />Guard the social security number- Do not keep it recorded everywhere. <br /> <br />Do not share it on public forums or with anyone unless you’re absolutely sure. <br /> <br />Do not carry around your child’s social security card along. <br /> <br />Monitor your child’s credit- Check with the credit bureau from time to time. Report the authorities immediately if you find something unusual. <br /> <br />Don’t give children access to their social security number and card until they realize the importance of it. <br /> <br />Visit http://www.stcguide.com/ to learn more about Child Identity Theft and how to prevent data breach.
