Lessons from Child Identity Theft Awareness Day

As children head back to school, their presence online and in various social settings increases, making them more vulnerable to identity theft. Identity theft became a common term in the mid-1960s, and it’s alarming that we now must protect our children from it as well. Criminals have no conscience when it comes to exploiting personal information, and they don’t respect boundaries. To raise awareness and help protect children, September 1 has been designated as National Child Identity Theft Awareness Day. This day aims to educate parents about the risks and provide strategies for protecting their children’s identities. Here are some valuable lessons we can learn from this initiative.

1. Educate Your Children

While schools play a role in educating kids, it’s essential that parents take the lead in teaching their children about the risks associated with their personal information. Identity thieves target children because their data is often unused for years, making it easier to exploit without detection. It’s crucial to explain to your kids the importance of safeguarding the following types of personal information:

• Social Security number
• Name and address
• Medical insurance account numbers
• Banking details

Criminals often use a child’s identity to open fraudulent credit accounts, obtain loans, or even secure employment. These activities can remain hidden until the child reaches adulthood and applies for their first credit card or student loan. By educating your children early on about the risks, you empower them to be more cautious and responsible.

2. Monitor Their Information

Just as you check your own financial and credit information, make it a point to monitor your child’s as well. Regularly reviewing their credit report is crucial for detecting unusual activity. Consider placing a fraud alert or even a credit freeze on their account until they need to apply for credit as adults. This simple step can prevent thieves from accessing their information.

Also, keep an eye on their online activity. Many children use social media platforms or online services that request personal details. Help them understand how to navigate the internet safely and avoid sharing sensitive information, even with friends. Teach them about the privacy settings on social media accounts and why it’s essential to restrict access to personal details.

3. Password Protection

Children start using passwords at a young age, whether for school assignments, video games, or social media accounts. Learning to create and use strong passwords is one of the first steps they can take to protect themselves from identity theft. Here are some tips for creating secure passwords:

• Length: Use at least 12 characters. The longer, the better.
• Complexity: Incorporate a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Avoid Common Words and Patterns: Don’t use easily guessable information like names, birthdays, or patterns like “1234” or “password.”
• Passphrases: Use random words in a phrase, such as “P1nk$C@tsFlY1977,” to create memorable yet strong passwords.
• Unique Passwords: Avoid reusing passwords across different sites. A compromised password on one account could give thieves access to others.
• Password Managers: Use password management tools to store and generate complex passwords, so you don’t have to remember all of them.
• Regular Updates: Change passwords regularly to keep them secure and stay ahead of potential breaches.

Teaching your children the importance of password safety early on can save them from future identity theft risks.

4. React Quickly to Any Suspicion

If you suspect that your child’s identity has been compromised, it’s crucial to act swiftly. Immediately contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and request a fraud alert or credit freeze. You should also report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and file a police report. Swift action can limit the damage and help prevent further exploitation of your child’s information.

5. Teach Safe Digital Practices

Children need to understand the importance of online safety. Show them how to recognize suspicious emails, websites, and text messages. Teach them never to click on links from unknown sources or open attachments from unfamiliar senders. Emphasize the importance of only using secure websites (those with “HTTPS” in the URL) and how to avoid phishing scams.

In addition, instruct your children to be cautious about answering phone calls from unrecognized numbers. Identity thieves often use phone scams to gather personal information, and teaching your children not to engage with these callers can be an effective safeguard.

6. Shred Personal Documents

A critical habit for children to learn is shredding any document that contains personal information. Thieves will go as far as dumpster diving to retrieve sensitive data from discarded papers. By teaching your child to shred everything—bank statements, medical bills, or even pay stubs from a part-time job—they will avoid accidentally discarding something important.

Explain that professional shredding services are the safest way to dispose of these documents. Pacific Shredding, for example, offers one-time residential purge shredding as well as drop-off shredding services. With NAID AAA Certification and strict compliance with state and federal laws, our shredding process ensures that your documents are securely destroyed and can never be reconstructed.

Investing in professional shredding services not only protects your child’s identity but also provides peace of mind that their personal information is safe.

Protecting your child’s identity is an ongoing process, but with awareness and preventive steps, you can safeguard them from the risk of identity theft. From educating them on the risks to teaching password protection and online safety, each step you take helps to keep their personal information secure.

If you’re ever in doubt or need assistance with secure document disposal, Pacific Shredding is here to help. Call us at 800-685-9034 or complete the form on this page to learn more about our services. Let’s work together to protect your family from identity theft.