As adults, we know that we need to continuously monitor our financial business, check our credit, and be vigilant for signs of identity theft. Slowly, as a society, we are learning to recognize the signs of the possible theft of our identity and we are learning to act fast before it ruins our credit and wipes out our savings and financial security. Identity thieves are also realizing that we are becoming more attuned to the signs of identity theft, and thus they have zeroed in on a new type of victim; children.

Unfortunately, because we do not monitor our children’s identity the same way we monitor our own, identity thieves are readily learning how to make the most of it and are pin pointing children as a source for identity theft. Upon applying for their first job or a student loan, kids are now realizing that their good name is gone before they even get out into the world. For years, someone has been living off their once perfect credit and undermining all the life lessons that we teach our children. “Work hard in school, go to college, and get a good job” is no longer a guarantee that their world will be okay. Now the speech is more like work hard in school, get into a good college, and hopefully there isn’t anyone out there pretending to be you who will mess that all up for you.”  (more…)