According to Steve Ely, president of the Equifax credit bureau’s division of consumer services, “Bad guys love child Social Security numbers, because it’s kind of a sleeper account. If you can get ahold of a child’s Social Security number when they’re two years old, you’ve got 14, 15, 16 years of being able to use that identity without potentially getting caught.”

Protecting your child’s identity requires the same diligence as protecting your own. Lock documents containing personally identifying information in a filing cabinet along with other identifying documents such as immunization records. Ask who needs your child’s personal information – don’t just fill out any form that you see. Do summer camps really need a Social Security number? If you can’t submit information confidentially, request that private details be either redacted or shredded after use.

It’s free to monitor your child’s credit report. Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax all allow parents to request a Minor Child Credit File Check. This will let you know if your child has a credit file opened in the child’s name. If there is, there’s a high likelihood that something is wrong, and parents need to investigate further.

Parents should start early to teach children to properly protect personal information, especially on the Internet. For their own safety, never allow children to reveal personal information on the Internet without your permission, especially on social networking sites. Use a social network monitoring tool for parents, such as SafetyWeb.com. Parents should also take steps to teach children what information should be kept private, like their date of birth, address, and Social Security numbers.

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