Is your CHILD at risk of identity theft? How scammers are increasingly targeting kids – and you might not realize until they start college

While we are warier than ever of fraudsters, few of us would expect they might target our children.

But experts are warning of a rise in criminals stealing the IDs of kids and teens to open lines of credit and even apply for Government benefits.

It is almost a perfect crime because parents often have no reason to check their children’s credit – meaning it goes unnoticed for years.

The Federal Trade Commission received 22,229 reports of identity fraud targeting Americans under the age of 19 last year. It accounted for 2 percent of all cases. 

That is just ‘the tip of the iceberg,’ according to the FTC’s Jennifer Leach, who educates families of the risks from crooks. Most victims don’t report the crime – and this age group many are yet to notice.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 22,229 reports of identity fraud targeting Americans under the age of 19 last year. It accounted for 2 percent of all cases

Scammers use multiple strategies to obtain information about children including searching data breaches, checking public records and engaging with them directly on online forums.

According to the FTC, they can then use information such as the minor’s name, address, date of birth or Social Security number to open a bank or credit card, apply for loans or even government benefits like health care coverage or nutrition assistance.

‘With that unique number, along with a couple of other bits of information like a name, address and birth date, a person can do all sorts of things,’ Leach told the Wall Street Journal.

‘They can get a loan, rent a house, sign up for government benefits, get utilities, a phone, a job – anything that requires a credit check.’ 

This can lead them to difficulties in adulthood because their credit score is wrecked before they have even rented their first apartment or secured their first job.

Domingo Guerra, executive vice president of trust at Incode Technologies, told the WSJ: ‘Unless you’re monitoring through an identity-theft protection service, you won’t know your child’s identity has been stolen until they apply for credit or a job.

‘That makes them great targets for attackers.’

Scammers use multiple strategies to obtain information about children including searching data breaches, checking public records and engaging with them directly on online forums

According to the FTC, they can then use information such as the minor’s name, address, date of birth or Social Security number to open a bank or credit card, apply for loans or even government benefits like health care coverage or nutrition assistance

The FTC recommends that parents are wary of anybody who asks for their child’s Social Security number and question why they need it and how it will be protected.

Parents should also delete personal information from any computer or cellphone they intend to dispose of.

Signs of identity theft include: being denied Government benefits, you receive a call about your child’s overdue bill or you get a letter from the Internal Revenue Service in relation to your child’s income taxes. Being denied a student loan may also be a telltale sign.

The FTC says parents can also check if their child has a credit report. Anybody under the age of 18 is unlikely to have a credit report unless someone is using their identity for fraud.