3 Ways to Protect Children From Identity Theft

Today I came across a recent study (commissioned by Equifax) on child identity theft.  The report indicated that about 84 percent of parents say they are only “somewhat familiar” or “not at all familiar” with child identity theft. The research also stated that many parents are unaware of the increasing threat of child identity theft that exists.

As a parent, I will admit that I was totally baffled by this report.  I am not quite sure why more is not being done to inform both parents and children about the dangers of identity theft.  With the increased online interactions and sharing done by both parents and kids, it is imperative to educate our children on proper online behavior and interactions.

The dangers our children face has shifted to the virtual world and teaching about the dangers that lurk on the Internet should be our duty as parents and advocates.

Three steps that every parent should take to protect our digital footprint as well as that of our children.

Getting educated.  It is crucial to educate our children (if they are old enough) about proper and safe Internet use.  Teaching them to recognize and avoid mishaps and the importance of keeping their personal information off social networking sites.

Staying up-to-date.  Don’t get caught off guard, always keep your computer’s antivirus and anti- malware up-to-date.

Checking your child's credit report. Get a copy of your child’s credit report and check for any suspicious activity.  To obtain a free report from all three credit bureaus once a year by visiting annualcreditreport.com.