Find information on child identity theft, its warning signs, and steps you can take to prevent it.

Many parents and guardians monitor their own credit reports. However, few request their child’s credit report, which could result in the theft of a child’s identity going undiscovered for years.

What Is Child Identity Theft?

Child identity theft occurs when someone uses or attempts to use a minor’s personal information to commit fraud, typically for economic gain. An identity thief may use the minor’s information to get a job, sign up for government benefits, gain access to medical care, apply for a loan, or open a credit account.

Children are particularly at risk for identity theft because there is currently no other credit history associated with their Social Security numbers. This allows criminals to more easily create fraudulent identities using the stolen information. Even more enticing to criminals: A child’s stolen identity may not be discovered for years until the child turns 18 and applies for a lease, student loan or their first credit card.

Child Identity Theft Warning Signs

Red flags that a child's identity may have been stolen include receiving:

• Phone calls or letters attempting to collect debt in a child's name;
• Pre-approval or other credit card offers for minors;
• Notices from a government entity addressed to a child about a traffic violation, jury duty summons, overdue taxes or other such documents;
• Bills or insurance claims for medical treatments that the child never received;
• Denial of state or federal benefits because the Social Security number is listed as already receiving those benefits; or
• Notification from the IRS that a dependent cannot be claimed on a tax return because the Social Security number already appears on someone else's tax form.

Check the Child's Credit Report

It is a good idea to check a minor’s credit report yearly, particularly while there is still time to dispute and eliminate errors before the child turns 18. Contact each of the three major credit reporting agencies and request a search to see if the child has a credit report on file with them. In addition to asking for the child’s credit report, ask each company to perform a manual search based only on the child’s Social Security number. This way, if the child’s Social Security number is associated with a different name and personal information, it will be discovered. The three major credit bureaus can be contacted at:

Equifax
1-800-685-1111
Equifax.com

Experian
1-888-397-3742
Experian.com

TransUnion
1-800-888-4213
Transunion.com

Keeping IDs Safe (K.I.D.S.) Act

Effective September 1, 2014, the K.I.D.S. Act made it possible for a parent or legal guardian in the state of Florida to place a security freeze on the credit report of a child under the age of 16. Parents or legal guardians may place the security freeze on the child’s credit reports with each of the three major credit reporting agencies. There is no cost to place the security freeze.

To place a security freeze on a minor child’s credit report, parents or guardians must contact each of the credit reporting bureaus. Each one has different requirements for placing a freeze on a minor’s credit report. Here is what consumers will need to provide for each bureau.

Equifax

To place a security freeze on the Equifax credit report of a minor (under the age of 16), you will need to submit proof of their identity, along with yours, and proof that you are their authorized representative. Download and follow the instructions on the Minor Freeze Request form.

To place a security freeze on the Equifax credit report of a minor (under the age of 16), please send — via U.S. Mail — the completed Minor Freeze Request form along with copies of the items listed here to verify your information and address as well as that of the minor requiring the security freeze. Placing, temporarily lifting, and permanently removing a security freeze is free. 

For the guardian, please provide one from each category:

• Proof of your identity
  • A copy of your driver's license or other government-issued identification
  • A copy of your Social Security card
  • A copy of your birth certificate
• Proof you are the minor's parent or authorized representative
  • The minor's birth certificate
  • A court order
  • A lawfully executed and valid power of attorney
  • Foster care certification

For the minor, please provide both of the following:

• A copy of the minor's Social Security card
• A copy of the minor's birth certificate

Send the completed Minor Freeze Request form along with all the requested information to:

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348

Experian

To request that Experian place a security freeze on the credit file of a protected consumer (minor or incapacitated consumer), submit all the following identification information: 

1. The protected consumer's full name, with middle initial and generation, such as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc;
2. The protected consumer's Social Security number;
3. The protected consumer's date of birth; 
4. The protected consumer's current mailing address and previous addresses for the past two years;
5. Your full name, with middle initial and generation, such as Jr, Sr, II, III, etc.;
6. Your Social Security number;
7. Your date of birth; and
8. Your current mailing address and previous addresses for the past two years.

Submit copies of the protected consumer's birth certificate and Social Security card, and one copy of your government-issued identification card, such as a driver's license, state ID card, etc., and one copy of a utility bill, bank or insurance statement, etc. Make sure that each copy is legible, displays your name and current mailing address, and the date of issue (statement dates must be recent). Experian is unable to accept credit card statements, voided checks, lease agreements, magazine subscriptions or postal service forwarding orders as proof. 

To protect your personal identification information, Experian does not return correspondence sent to them. Send copies of any documents you wish to provide to Experian and always retain your original documents. If you are the protected consumer's guardian, submit a copy of the court document naming you as the guardian.

Once Experian has received your request and all the required information, a freeze will be placed on the protected consumer's credit file. If a credit file does not exist, Experian will create the file and add the freeze.

Mail your request and required information to:

Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion

Consumers are not able to place a protected consumer freeze with TransUnion via phone or online at this time due to the documentation requirements. TransUnion accepts either standard or certified mail.

The following information is required:

1. A written request to place a "protected consumer freeze" on the named individual's file
2. And one piece of documentation that provides sufficient proof that you have authority to act on behalf of the minor or dependent such as:
   • An order issued by a court of law
   • A lawfully executed and valid power of attorney
   • A document issued by a federal, state or local government agency in the United States showing proof of parentage, including a birth certificate
   • With respect to a protected consumer who has been placed in a foster care setting, a written communication from a county welfare department or its agent of designee, or a county probation department or its agent or designee, certifying that the protected consumer is in a foster care setting under its jurisdiction
3. And information or documentation that provides sufficient proof that you are who you really are, and information or documentation that the minor/dependent is who they really are, such as:
   • A Social Security number or a copy of a Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration
   • A certified or official copy of a birth certificate issued by the entity authorized to issue the birth certificate
   • A copy of driver's license, an identification card issued by the motor vehicle administration, or any other government-issued identification

Please send everything to:

TransUnion
P.O. Box 380
Woodlyn, PA 19094

Who Can Help?

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the state's clearinghouse for consumer complaints, protection and information. Consumers who believe fraud has taken place can contact the department's consumer protection and information hotline by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) en Español.

You can also obtain information on how to report identity theft and get a recovery plan at the following Federal Trade Commission (FTC) site: IdentityTheft.gov.