Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the country and according to the Federal Trade Commission, 5 percent of all identity theft complaints in 2008 were victims under the age of one. Younger aged children are often targeted by identity thieves because the crime can go undetected for longer periods of time.

The U.S. National Center for Education Statistics estimates that an anticipated 56 million children will embark on their first day of school this fall. For most parents, the start of the school year brings excitement and apprehension.  It also means having to fill out or update a number of forms required by the school, some of which ask for your child’s date of birth, home address, phone number, and even your child’s Social Security number. This Summer, however, as reported by the Better Business Bureau and throughout the blogosphere, a shift from adults to children as targets has occurred, ultimately placing on parents the responsibility to question how their children’s personal identifiable information (PII) is being used, why it is necessary, and if it is being secured against identity thieves.

ID Guardian has compiled the following list of tips to help parents protect their school-aged children from becoming victims of identity theft:

1. Remind your children not to share any personal information like their home address, phone number, or Social Security numbers with anyone. Typically the first day of school is filled with lots of questions from school staff and children need to know to ask their parents first before sharing any of that information.
2. If you are a new parent with a child entering kindergarten, most schools will require a copy of that child’s birth certificate. Do not leave a copy behind. If they are collecting information for later review, ask them where this information will be stored and who will have access to it.
3. Most schools still ask for the child’s Social Security number; however, it is more of a “like to have” rather than a “must have.” This information is not always handled properly and puts your child further at risk for having their identity compromised should the information be accidentally leaked or stolen from insiders. Ask to speak to the principal if you are uncomfortable with providing the information.
4. Children are always excited to show off their brand new backpacks and supplies on the first day of school.  And most backpacks nowadays include identification tags that hang on the outside that include the owner’s name and home address. Instead of making your child’s personal information easily accessible, writing their name in permanent ink somewhere on the inside of the bag is a better idea.
5. With more and more schools providing students access to computers for everyday use, it is important to teach your children how to be safe online while at school and to familiarize yourself with the school’s Acceptable Use Policy for Internet Use.
6. Stay involved with your child’s online activities. Based on a study by Grunwald Associates, an estimated 27 percent of 9-17 year olds maintained weekly blogs, web pages or other online spaces in 2008. One in five U.S. children say they do things online their parents would not approve of, according to a recent Norton Online Living Report.  Make sure you monitor what your children are doing online. Review and explain the privacy policies with your child so they understand how their information can be exposed if proper security preferences are not put in place.
7. Consider using parental control software or services to help monitor what your children are doing online.  Some parental control software can cost around $40 while many websites like AOL, MSN and Yahoo, offer some form of free parental controls included with their services.
8. Keep an eye out for any mail, particularly credit applications addressed to your child, or telemarketing calls asking for your child by name—this could indicate that someone has used your child’s personal information to commit identity theft.

Related posts:

1. Identity Safety for Your Child
2. Identity Safety for Your Teens
3. Why Identity Protection for Kids Matters
4. The IDGuardian Podcast: Episode #010 — Social Media Safety Tips
5. Candid Kids Can Be Safe, Too