Page 60 - Cyber Warnings

● Who else will have access to these files?
● How will you dispose of the information when you no longer need it?
● Is there another form of identification you can use aside from my child’s social security
number?

Red flags:
Taking the above precautions is an important step toward keeping your child’s information safe,
but it’s important to recognize warning signs of fraud. Consider it a red flag and take immediate
action if you notice any of the following:

● Credit card applications in your child’s name
● Calls from collection agencies for your child
● Bills in your child’s name
● A close friend or relative who knows your child’s SSN and has mysteriously “found” a
significant amount of money

What to do if you suspect your child is a victim of identity theft: tips found on
IdentityTheft.gov
Take immediate action if you suspect your child has been a victim of identity theft. The Federal
Trade Commission has put together a helpful checklist of immediate steps to take when you
suspect identity theft on the website IdentityTheft.gov including the following:

● Call the companies where the fraudulent transactions took place and ask for a freeze on
your account, particularly if there were credit cards charged.
● Place a fraud alert by calling each of the 3 credit reporting agencies and requesting a
credit report.
● For child identity theft, you will need to send each credit reporting agency a form entitled
“Uniform Minor’s Status Declaration.”
● Call or fill out an online report with the FTC reporting the fraud and keep a copy for your
records
● Visit your local police station to file a report, even if you don’t know the identity of the
thief
● Freeze your child’s account on Equifax and on the other credit reporting agencies if your
state allows it

Preventative measures:
The good news is, there are options for parents who are concerned about their children’s
identity being stolen. Many identity theft protection companies offer protection that covers the
whole family, not just the adults. In addition to using an identity theft protection company, you
can also take the following steps to ensure your children’s safety:

● Freeze your child’s account: 19 states allow parents to freeze their children’s credit
reports through all three credit reporting agencies, and Equifax has recently started

60 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – February 2016 Edition
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