As is the nature of parents, they enjoy sharing information and pictures of their children. This expected pastime has become more prevalent online. Experts developed a term describing this type of oversharing, calling it “sharenting.” However, it also raised concerns about children’s privacy. Such worry especially applies to a child’s online presence, especially before they’re old enough to create social media accounts.

Parents proud of their children want to brag about them. They often want to share their kids’ accomplishments with friends and relatives, which social media makes deceptively easy. Unfortunately, many forget about the potential consequences of oversharing such information. For example, they could risk their child’s safety, identity, and more.

Protecting Your Child From Identity Theft

Experts have commented on how little thieves need to steal a child’s personal information. For example, they could learn too much just from a picture posted online. Thieves could discover your location, such as what school or recreational area they frequent, from a picture alone. It is crucial to consider what you share online.

One risk your child faces from such casual sharing is identity theft. The younger the child, the longer it can take for anyone to realize a thief has taken their identity. By the time anyone realizes it, the thief could deal considerable damage to the child’s credit or criminal history. Identity theft could tarnish the child’s ability to obtain loans, work, or housing. Such damage could take years to resolve. 

Be Careful When Posting

Take care when discussing your children or posting pictures of them in public social media forums. Even posts you make on private accounts can become public due to interaction by family or friends. As such, parents should avoid sharing too much information. Examples include the child’s name, age, or birthdate. Identity thieves look for this information online. 

Consider checking the privacy policy and settings of any website you post on. If available, customize these settings to ensure posts privately made do not leak to the public. Regardless, any privacy adjustments could improve your control over who accesses your child’s information and pictures. 

However, this practice should not be the only precaution you take. Anyone with access to your posts can still propagate the child’s information. Those with access can still share and leak the child’s data despite the posts’ restrictions.

No matter how careful you are, you cannot account for how others will use or spread your child’s information. You could do everything correctly, but thieves could still steal your child’s identity. If you suspect someone has stolen your child’s identity, consider running a credit or background check for them. Self-check can inform you whether someone has committed crimes or opened accounts under your child’s name.

Protect your and your children’s identity today. Click here to run a self background check

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Most people do not think of children when they hear about identity theft. Unfortunately, children suffering from identity theft are more common than most expect. Some believe thieves specifically target children because it can take years for anyone to discover the theft.

Child identity theft occurs when someone steals the personal information of a child. Thieves often target information such as names, addresses, dates of birth, or Social Security Numbers. With this information, the thief can commit fraud, obtain services, or acquire benefits under the child’s name. Examples of fraud include:

• Opening credit cards or bank accounts.
• Securing utility services.
• Applying for government benefits.
• Taking out a loan.

Warning Signs Someone Stole Your Child’s Identity

Parents should watch for signs that someone has stolen their child’s identity. They should act quickly upon seeing the signs and realizing it has happened to their children. The Federal Trade Commission has listed signs of fraud under the child’s name. They suggest parents watch for the following:

• Denied government benefits, such as health care coverage or nutrition assistance; reasons for denial include someone already using the child’s Social Security Number to get these benefits.
• An alleged collector calls concerning an overdue bill under the child’s name; however, neither parent opened this account for the child.
• The IRS sends a letter declaring the child has not paid income taxes; this happens when someone has used the child’s Social Security Number on tax forms for a new job.
• Denied student loans because the child has bad credit; this happens if someone has used the child’s Social Security Number to open a credit card, cell phone account, or utility service and has not paid the bills on time, if at all.

Steps to Take if Your Child is a Victim of Identity Theft

Once again, parents must act quickly after realizing their child has become a victim of identity theft. Here are steps they can take to help their child immediately: 

• Notify Involved Companies: Parents should contact the companies where thieves have opened an account and close it. They should also request the company provide written confirmation that the child holds no responsibility for the fraudulent account.
• Contact All Three of the Major Credit Bureaus: Inform all credit bureaus that an individual opened an account or accounts with the child’s information. Parents should request the bureaus remove the fraudulent information and monitor the child’s credit report to ensure the bureaus remove everything.
• Freeze the Child’s Credit Report: The credit bureaus can freeze the child’s credit report, making it difficult for thieves to open accounts in the child’s name. However, parents must remove the freeze when expecting credit checks so the freeze does not get in the way. Children 16 or older can remove the freeze themselves.
• Report the identity theft: Parents should report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.

Learning someone has stolen your child’s identity is stressful. As such, parents should act quickly to minimize the damages, as identity theft can negatively impact their child’s future. Parents should also consider running background checks on their children. A self-background check can inform parents of fraudulent activities and ensure no one has committed crimes in the child’s name.

Protect and guard your and your children’s personal information and identity with a seamless self background check. Try it today.

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