Child Identity Theft

Identity theft is more common among kids, teens and college students than any other age group.

In fact, according to ChildTheft.org, between 500,000 and 750,000 children every year are affected by identity theft, half of which are younger than the age of six. In addition, another study by CyLab revealed that one in 10 children have had their Social Security number used by someone else before they reached adulthood.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Young people are often targeted because they have clean credit reports and unused Social Security numbers. They are also likely to share their personal information online and usually aren’t cautious when it comes to protecting their data.

According to LifeLock, teens are often targets for identity theft because the risk of becoming a victim isn’t on their radar. They don’t always understand that their actions are making them vulnerable, and they are unaware of the severe consequences.

Unfortunately, teens don’t fully comprehend the negative impact of identity theft until it’s too late. Identity theft can destroy or damage a teen’s ability to qualify for student loans, acquire a cell phone, seek employment or secure a place to live. Teens who have become victims of identity theft can face a number of roadblocks during an already challenging time of applying to colleges, trying to land jobs and building credit.

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