Overview
Child identity fraud costs U.S. families nearly $1 billion annually. It affects one out of every 50 children and takes parents and guardians a tremendous amount of time to resolve. Although child ID theft and fraud are not new, the topic has taken on new and concerning relevance amid the accelerating use of social media, remote learning, and digital purchasing. This report delves into child ID theft and fraud in the United States and showcases the behaviors and characteristics that put children at greatest risk. The report also equips consumers with resources and advice to help identify child ID fraud, resolve it, and prevent it from happening in the future.
Javelin Strategy & Research has made this report a complimentary resource available to the general public. Simply fill out the 'Download Whitepaper Form' on the right. As child ID fraud is extremely underreported and misunderstood, our goal is to help consumers understand how they can best protect themselves and their children.
Key questions discussed in this report:
- Why is child ID fraud often overlooked, misunderstood, and undetected?
- What roles do social media and unmonitored Internet access play in child ID theft and fraud?
- How is child ID theft and fraud evolving by capitalizing on remote learning, digital device usage, and social engineering?
- What should parents and guardians do if they discover fraud that affects or uses their child’s identity?
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It’s been a challenging couple of years for parents around the globe. Families, regardless of the age of their children, have been dealing with all sorts of new and daunting scenarios. Couple the challenges of the pandemic with a rapidly accelerating digital world and it presents a lot for families to manage and monitor. As the parent of three children I can certainly attest to some of these challenges. Every day it seems like there is something new to learn about what my kids are up to online, or perhaps what digital behaviors my wife and I should be demonstrating. There is no shortage of teachable moments, but ultimately it can also be a challenge to relate to our children’s digital behaviors. We don’t always relate and that’s ok – but we do need to know how to keep them safe. No matter what age your children are, there are digital dangers that they face daily.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FAMILIES TO HELP REDUCE THE RISKS OF CHILD IDENTITY FRAUD:
- Keep personal information private, online and on paper.
- Don’t share your children’s’ information on social media.
- Set positive online examples for your children by practicing safe online behaviors yourself.
- Limit and monitor the use of social media and messaging platforms.
- Monitor your child’s online activity, particularly as it relates to potential cyberbullying.
- Platforms that allow users to direct/private message (DM), friend, or follow other users via public search pose the greatest concern.
- Keep a watchful eye on your child’s credit and consider freezing it.
- Enroll in an identity protection service.
Make informed decisions in a digital financial world