From the Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia:
Scammers continue to target children’s identities for theft because they can generally use them for years before being discovered, says the Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia. Children are more likely to have their identities stolen than adults, according to the bureau.
“If you give up your child’s personal information, they may become a victim of identity theft,” said Barry N. Moore, President of BBB serving Central Virginia. “Scammers know that people rarely, if ever, check their child’s credit report, which means they can get away with using a child’s name and information for years before being found out. In addition, children’s credit scores are a clean slate, making them an ideal target,” Moore added.
The Better Business Bureau cautions parents to never provide personal information about their children to a stranger, to be wary of unsolicited offers and to check their child’s credit score once a year.
Your BBB reported in December 2019 that scammers had thought up a new con involving “FREE child safety kits.” According to recent BBB Scam Tracker reports, scammers are offering these free “kits” as a way to get their hands on sensitive information that can be used to steal a child’s identity.
How to Avoid Scams Involving Your Children
- Never give your child’s personal information to a stranger. Be especially careful with your child’s Social Security number.
- Be wary of unsolicited offers from anyone—businesses, nonprofits or government agencies.
Take precautions to protect your child’s identity. Check your child’s credit report annually for signs of fraud at annualcreditreport.com. Make sure your child’s school, doctor’s office, little league team, etc. is aggressively keeping your child’s personal information safe. Keep an eye out for red flags, such as bills or invoices mailed to your home in your child’s name.
For More Information
For more information on how to keep your family safe from identity theft, see BBB.org/IdentityTheft. Check out this warning about the scam from one local police department.
If you or your child has been the victim of identity theft, report your experience on the BBB.org/ScamTracker. The information you share can help other people protect their families from similar schemes.
About BBB: BBB serving Central Virginia serves Richmond, the Tri-Cities, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg, as well as 42 surrounding counties from Fauquier to Mecklenburg and Northumberland to Amherst. The nonprofit organization was established in 1954 to advance responsible, honest, and ethical business practices and to promote customer confidence through self-regulation of business. Core services of BBB include business profiles, dispute resolution, truth-in advertising, consumer and business education, and charity review.
