WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Consumer Alert: Child identity theft

Consumer Alert: Child identity theft

(National) May 10, 2005 - Imagine a child with more than a dozen credit cards and thousands of dollars in debt. Shiloh Pucket is only ten years old, and her credit has already been ruined. The person responsible? Her mother.

Cindy Pucket stole her daughter's identity, she claims, "It was a means of necessity. We needed help."

Linda Foley at the Identity Theft Resource Center said, "Child identity theft is one of the most vicious crimes I can think of."

Children are the latest victims of identity theft. More than half a million kids have their identities stolen each year. But it's not always a relative to blame. The crook can be a complete stranger who gets your child's social security number and starts applying for credit.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert, "Once they have that number, they can go and open up accounts." Children are a big target because they have unblemished credit and the crime can go unnoticed for years. "And that entire credit report has probably been ruined," adds Foley.

Parents, there are ways to protect your kids. First, when you apply for your child's social security number, make sure the card arrives in the mail. Once you have the card, put it in a safe place, don't carry it in your wallet, it's simply an open invitation to theft. Also, do not put their social security numbers on non-essential forms like daycare or camp applications.

"Even if a school asks for your child's social security number," says Foley, "The reality is they have to provide an education for them whether you give it or not."

And keep an eye on their credit report. Any activity is a red flag.

"It's important that parents not only check their own credit reports every four to six months, but they should also check that of their child, their spouses, even their parents," says Siciliano.

Shiloh's mom spent six months in jail, but other credit crooks are still out there, waiting to prey on innocent children.

Reported by Judi Gatson
Posted 4:33pm by Bryce Mursch