When Your Child's Identity is at Risk

All too often, people assume that children are safe from identity theft. Unfortunately, it's not true. I don't know if it's because creditors don't take the time to verify the ages associated with Social Security Numbers that are used to get credit, or if there's some other minor facet of identity monitoring that goes missed, but it does. And often children don't learn until it's far too late that their identities have been compromised.

Recently, the Department of Economic Security in Arizona notified sent out thousands of letters notifying parents their children's personal identifying information may have been put at risk.

Now parents are finding themselves wondering how to protect their kids from identity theft. Of course, all the same strategies for preventing identity theft that an adult uses work for keeping your child's identity safe. It may seem a little ridiculous to request a credit report on a six year old, but if you suspect your child's identity has been put at risk, you absolutely should.

Identity theft knows no barriers. Young, old, rich, even poor. Criminals can find value in your personal information. Protect your kids. And teach them to protect themselves, too.