NCJ Number
210687
Date Published
August 2003
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This overview of child identity theft addresses the nature, detection, prevention, and potential impact of this crime, along with steps to take should it occur.
Abstract
Child identity theft occurs when a child's personal information is obtained and used by another person for the imposter's personal gain. The three common categories of identity theft are financial identity theft, which most often involves the use of the child's name and social security number (SSN) to establish new lines of credit for the imposter; criminal identity theft, which occurs when a person uses a child's personal information to get a driver's license; and identity cloning, which involves the collection of information on minors that is then sold on the black market to those who use this information to construct a new identity. Child identity theft is usually detected by a parent or relative when attempting to open a savings account or college fund, only to find that there is already an account with the child's SSN or that the request is denied due to a bad check record. The potential impact of identity theft is that the irresponsible and criminal actions of the imposter are attributed to the child/adult, thus impairing his/her credit and attempts to establish socioeconomic integrity and status as an adult. Prevention recommendations involve steps a parent can take to limit opportunities for identity thieves to obtain information on one's child. Should a child become a victim of identity theft, this booklet provides tips on how to clear the bad records incurred by the imposter, whether to seek the help of an attorney, and whether to change a SSN. Various resources and contacts are listed.