ID Thieves' New Target: Kids

IRVINE, Calif. - Identity thieves are increasingly setting their sights on children. Child identity theft, the stealing of a minor's personal information and the establishment of lines of credit in his/her name, is being reported at an "alarming rate," according to one analysis, with many parents and children not realizing that the child's identity has been stolen until he or she applies for credit much later in life.

The ID Theft Data Clearinghouse, which is run by the Federal Trade Commission, reported that more than 10,000 identity theft complaints were filed on behalf of victims under 18 years old in 2006, up from 6,512 reported cases in 2003.

Parents seem concerned about the issue, although unsure of what to do. A new survey from Experian-Gallup revealed that 74% of consumers feel it would be "easy" or "somewhat easy" to steal a child's identity. Forty-six percent of parents surveyed think it is "likely" or "somewhat likely" that their child could have his or her personal information stolen.

"Instances of child identity theft will likely to continue to grow as minors become more active online and on other information sharing platforms," said the sponsors of the Experian-Gallup survey.

"Children aged nine to 17 are much more connected to the rest of the world with skyrocketing growth rates in Internet and cell phone use," said Maxine Sweet, vice president-public education at Experian. "These platforms facilitate information exchange, and if left unmonitored, could lead to enhanced identity theft. Minors and adults alike need to take precautions to keep their personal information safe. New products are emerging to help families protect against identity theft aimed at minors." (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com