Are children at risk for identity theft?

Question

I've noticed that even infants and toddlers have social security numbers. Are they at risk for identity theft?

Answer 1

mbrcatz is right on the money...as she almost always is.....

Kids are easy prey for identity theft....most identity theft including that against kids....is perpetrated by somebody who either knows the victim or works in an environment with access to the data (an inside job).

It is VERY rare for thieves to get data on strangers.

You hear a lot about security breaches due to stolen/misplaced laptops. This is because there is a myraid of state and federal laws that require notification to potential victims.

What you don't hear is that most of the laptops are taken because they are valuable laptops...not because of what is on them.

Answer 2

Yes, they are.. anyone with a SS number is at risk. I saw a special on "60 minutes" before where a woman was fighting because her 4-year-old son had apparantly like 20 credit cards out in his name and had purchased a car and all kinds of stuff.

Answer 3

Yes. My 7 yr old grand daughter had hers stolen. Her Mom is in the process of trying to get it cleared up now. We found out when we tried to open a college fun bank account for her.

Answer 4

Absolutely - but mostly their identities are stolen by a parent or guardian. Sad, isn't it? But it happens all the time. Some kids have horrible credit records before they're 10.

Answer 5

yes. What you need to do is to write all 3 agencies and tell them to put SSN on hold for all future activities until notified. Provide proof of SS# and birth certificate.

Answer 6

Everyone is at risk. You should consider protecting yourself and your family. I can tell you how if you are interested!

Answer 7

anybody with a valid social security number is at risk (unless your FICO score is in the tanker)...

Answer 8

Yes if they have a ss# it can be abused