What every parent needs to know about child identity theft book. Child identity theft is a huge problem because it can go undetected for years. Because a child isnt likely to need a good credit rating for many years to come, child identity theft can go on for years without anyone noticing. Oct 17, 2019 i wanted to understand the psychology behind identity theft, so i got a phd from iowa state and wrote my dissertation on the lasting effects of child identity theft. Protecting our children is second nature to most parents. Child identity theft is the fastest growing form of id theft and its the one thats least understood. Victims of identity theft, 2014 presents findings on the prevalence and nature of identity theft from the 2014 identity theft supplement to the national crime victimization survey. As a college student, she once again found herself a victim of the crime. As a child, betzhamiltons family suffered through the repercussions of identity theft. Nov 26, 20 even scarier, child identity theft goes beyond credit card fraud.
Child identity theft is a growing problem in the united states. The federal trade commission, the government agency that accepts identity fraud complaints, received more than 11,600 identity theft. Axton betzhamiltons new book the less people know about us reveals how her mom, pam, stole her identity when she was 19. Never too young to have your identity stolen the new. Child identity theft, presented in a question and answer format, will help parents and.
Identity theft poses extra troubles for children the new. What every parent needs to know is an invaluable resource for parents, grandparents, and teachers. Send a followup letter and include your childs ftc identity theft report and a copy of your childs birth certificate. Freezing your childs credit will keep a criminal from opening credit in your childs name, but it doesnt protect your child from identity. Identity theft cases are becoming more common, especially among kids. Identity theft learn what you can do to help better protect your information, and what you should be looking for when it comes to identity theft. Often, child identity theft isnt detected until a kid is a teenager, and by then, the damage is done, says robert p. Kids clean credit histories make it easy for criminals to make new charges, open accounts and more. Child identity theft is a growing and expensive problem. Countless other cases go unreported because the thief is a relative or parent of the victim. What to do when your social security number or personal information have been stolen. Identity theft free publications to share bulkorder. Foster children are at particular risk, because so many adults are involved.
Synthetic identity theft is the fabrication of a new identity using partial information from an existing identity. Never too young to have your identity stolen the new york times. Consumer protection identity theft prevention legal forms. Send a followup letter and include your child s ftc identity theft report and a copy of your child s birth certificate. A wallet card law enforcers and others can use to remind people to report identity theft at identitytheft. Now an expert in identity theft, shes dedicated her life to understanding the intricacies of the motivations, consequences, and nuances of the crime. Identity theft is when thieves steal your personal information in order to take over or open new accounts, file fake tax returns, rent or buy properties, or do other criminal things in your name.
Robert takes the reader on a guided tour of all of the known issues that a child identity theft case can have, and provides clear, accurate, timely guidance so the parent. According to javelin strategy and research, a million american children became victims of identity theft last year at a cost of 2. As a grandparent and employee in a school system, i am in awe of the information contained in this book for the safekeeping of children. Identity theft is my first exposure to bob aveys fourbook detective kenny elliot mystery series. Child identity theft has become a big problem in recent years. May 01, 2018 and some child identity theft is committed by family members or close associates with access to a childs information. Child identity theft las vegasclark county library. Credit scores understand credit scores, creditworthiness, and how credit scores are used in daytoday life. Aug 29, 2012 enrolling your child in school means youll be required to provide sensitive information such as a bill to prove residency, a social security card or birth certificate, and medical records. Robert takes the reader on a guided tour of all of the known issues that a child identity theft case can have, and provides clear, accurate, timely guidance so the parent can clear their childs name and restore.
A must read for every parent and grandparent should read this book. The identity theft recovery guide book tells you how to notify the irs when your social security number has been misused. What every parent needs to know about child identity theft. Child identity theft is on the rise two child identity. To find out if your child has a credit report, request a manual search for your childs social security number.
When children are victims of identity theft twentyone states have passed laws that allow parents or guardians to freeze their childs credit record. This easy to understand ebook contains detailed information about each one of the steps you should take if you are a victim of identity theft. She has written 10 books and more than 2,500 articles for a wide variety of national and international. Yes, unsavory folks want to get their hands on your childs social security number, but theyll settle for his name and address, too and that info lets them give the cops a false name if they get arrested, get medical care without insurance, or a fake id in order to work. Get the facts about child identity theft to protect your little ones personal information. The information can then be used to open credit accounts in your name or receive benefits, such as employment, insurance or housing. For example, the thief might create a new person using a real social security number but someone elses name and birth date. The best books about identity theft and deception novel. Child identity theft is the fastest growing type of identity theft, a crime that affects some 10 million people annually. How to prevent child identity theft scholastic parents. Mar 16, 2020 child identity theft is the fastest growing type of identity theft, a crime that affects some 10 million people annually.
Top 25 amazon books on everything identity theft best company. Click on any title below to see what that book or form specifically covers. Here, a veteran law enforcement professional and expert in child identity theft offers parents, educators, law enforcement officials, and others who care for or work with children an inside look at the ways in which children are vulnerable to identity thieves. Thieves may even create a consumer by blending a childs social security number with a different name, address and birthdate, a practice called synthetic identity theft. Child identity theft is something all parents need to be alert for, says eva velasquez, president of the identity theft resource center. Enrolling your child in school means youll be required to provide sensitive information such as a bill to prove residency, a social security card or birth certificate, and medical records. Im sharing the financial theft stories to demonstrate how easy it is to become a victim and suggest steps you can take to protect your kids starting today. Two involved child identity theft for financial cybercrime and the other involved identity theft on social media for cyberbullying. Dec 28, 2017 matt cullina, ceo, identity theft 911 robert p.
Robert p chappell identity theft is a growing problem around the world, and criminals are not above stealing a childs identity. To find out if your child has a credit report, request a manual search for your child s social security number. Identity theft may impact your credit reports and credit scores. What every parent needs to know, sometimes jots down names, insurance information and other bits and pieces as he listens in those. Identity theft financial literacy in public libraries. This book provides helpful ways to avoid child identity theft, as well as steps to clear any occurrences of identity theft. Protect your child from backtoschool identity theft black. Consumer protection identity theft prevention legal.
Children have to worry about identity theft, too smart. Child identity theft multnomah county library overdrive. Protect your child from backtoschool identity theft. This one works pretty well as a standalone, though, so if youre new to the series like me, dont worry too much about just jumping in at this point. Our consumer protection forms help you handle common consumer matters, like writing a demand letter and canceling a contract. You can read more about these and other types of identity theft, including employment identity theft and senior identity theft.
Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. One study says 1 in 10 children have someone else using their social security number. Nov 02, 2015 when children are victims of identity theft twentyone states have passed laws that allow parents or guardians to freeze their childs credit record. Also, our identity theft kit provides essential recovery steps should you become the unfortunate victim of an identity thief. Jul 21, 2007 child identity theft is a growing problem in the united states. This book is a hand guide for parents who want to make sure they are doing everything possible to keep their child s financial future protected from the threat of identity theft. Child identity theft when a thief opens accounts using a childs social security number. Children are prime targets of identity thieves who, if they are able to get. How to protect your kids and their future credit from. Each year more than 500,000 children are affected by identity theft half of them under age six. Scam of the day april 5, 2019 law enforcement busts. I suppose we have all heard about identity theft, but when i saw this book about child identity theft and noticed it was written by a decorated officer who has worked extensively in this area, it caught my attention. Often a family member or friend is responsible, but strangers are also threats.