If you've ever been the victim of identity theft, you know how difficult it can be to get your life back.
According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), more than 8.1 million adults fell victim to identity theft last year. And if you think your children's identities can't be hijacked, think again. The BBB says child identity theft is a growing crime, causing damage to the pristine credit reports of kids.
Now, Consuming Credit Counseling Service of Buffalo and the Better Business Bureau have joined forces with Tops Friendly Markets, other business partners and national advocacy organizations to launch the 4th annual "Secure Your Identity Day." The event will take place Saturday, October 22.
According to a report from Javelin Strategy and Research, the theft resulted in the loss of $37 billion dollars and consumer out-of-pocket cost increased 63 percent from $387 in 2009 to $631 per identity fraud incident in 2010. On top of that, children may be 51 times more likely than adults to have their identity stolen, according to a study conducted by AllClear ID.
Many parents don't think about their children as possible victims of identity theft. But it can and does happen. The BBB says hundreds of inactive Social Security numbers are being found online. Most are assigned to children under the age of 18 who haven't started using them yet. Scammers then sell the numbers under different names to help people establish fake credit.
"We're all at risk for identity theft, but our children are particularly vulnerable," said David Polino, Better Business Bureau President. "It's our role as parents to understand how to protect our children and in later years, teach them how to safely manage their personal information."
AllClear ID has created a free way for a parent or guardian to check a child's Social Security number to determine if he or she is a victim of identity theft. Click here for more information.
You can find more information about how to protect your identity here.
CCCS and BBB also have these tips to keep your personal information safe:
- Shred documents with financial and personal information.
- Never leave ATM or credit card receipts behind.
- Don't use an obvious password like your birth date.
- Do not give out your Social Security number, carry your card with you, or put your number on checks.
- Never give out personal information unless you know who you are dealing with.
- Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails.
- Keep your computer secure by using firewalls, anti-spyware and antivirus software, and keep them up-to-date.
- Review your bank, credit card and other financial statements often and carefully.
- Monitor your credit report at least twice a year by clicking here.
- Register with the National Do Not Call Registry at (888) 382-1222 or by clicking here.
