Watching Out For Your Child’s Identity

As a father of four, I have a lot daily concerns about my kids’ health and well being. I’m concerned about the latest strain of H1N1; I’m concerned about what they watch on TV; I hope that they do well enough in school to achieve their dreams. And most recently, I’m also concerned about their financial health when I hear that some kids are becoming the victims of identity theft.

Children are especially attractive targets for identity thieves because they have unblemished credit records, making it easier for thieves to take out loans in their name.  Children’s Social Security Numbers are listed on birth certificates, health records, savings bonds and other documents making it easy for this information to fall into the hands of thieves.

Identity theft can have serious repercussions when children reach adulthood. Teens trying to get into college or find their first jobs may not be eligible for collage loans and car loans, or could have trouble finding work if their credit records establish them as untrustworthy.

Here are some steps that parents can take to help protect their child’s identity:

• Keep medical documents and birth records in a locked filing cabinet or safe.
• Shred any documents with your child’s Social Security Number and personal information on them. This includes bond or savings account statements in their name.
• Be aware of people in your house, such as nannies, babysitters, and neighbors that could access your child’s personal information.
• Limit the number of family members with access to your child’s Social Security Number and medical information. Often family members with bad credit will look to take a child’s personal information.
• Check to see if any of the credit bureaus have a file opened on your child. There should be absolutely no credit file on your child, until they turn 18.

If you suspect that someone has stolen your child’s identity or if there is suspicious activity on their report, call your local authorities and file a police report.

For more information on identity theft protection, or to enroll your child in an identity theft protection program like IdentitySecure, please visit:  www.affinionsecuritycenter.com.

Tim Lukens is Senior Vice President of Product Management at Affinion Group, where he leads a team responsible for developing, launching and optimizing Affinion’s broad array of consumer savings and protection-based products and services. He is the proud father of four children.

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