By Kamilah Alexander
Parents now have one more thing to protect their children from- identity theft. In a development that should surprise no one, identity thieves are now targeting kids. The enticement is simple- unlike an adult with an existing identity that needs to be altered, a child’s identity is an empty canvas upon which thieves can create any picture they desire. Moreover, because children generally have no need of their own credit for a long period of time, the theft of a child’s identity can go undetected for numerous years. It’s likely not until the child eventually applies for (and is denied) his or her first credit card or loan (car, college), that the identity theft will be discovered, long after the child’s credit has been ruined.
A local news station in Jacksonville, Florida reports that, in an effort to combat the identity theft of children, Florida lawmakers have recently introduced a bill that would let parents create a credit profile for their children and then freeze that credit profile. An ability to freeze a child’s credit would certainly help parents. They wouldn’t have to continuously monitor their children’s credit profiles, something adults find challenging enough to do for themselves.
http://www.wokv.com/news/news/local/your-child-risk-identity-theft/nWjbH/