 TITLE: What Is Child Identity Theft? CONTENT: How to Prevent Child Identity Fraud From Happening\n--------------------------------------------------\nBeing proactive is the best way to protect your child's personal information and identity. Once your child's personal information is stolen, there is almost nothing you can do to get it back.\nHere are a few things you can do to help protect your child's identity from fraudsters:\n*   **Educate your child**. Education is the simplest prevention method. Teach your child what to look for and how to conduct themselves responsibly online. Starting them early with these habits will protect them through their childhood and into their adult years, when it will become increasingly important to know how to protect themselves.\n*   **Enroll in an identity monitoring program.** Consider enrolling in a credit and identity monitoring program. Experian's IdentityWorksSM family identity theft monitoring plans help you keep an eye on your whole family's personal information to make sure it isn't being misused. Requesting a minor's credit report will check to see if your child has an Experian credit file, which could indicate fraud. Periodically checking to see if your child has a credit report can also help you keep track of any new accounts or unusual activity appearing under their name.\n*   **Freeze your child's credit reports.** Freezing your child's credit reports can help you make sure no new accounts are opened in their name. This is a great option if your child is still young and has no plans to open any credit accounts in the near future. Credit freezes stop potential lenders from accessing your credit reports, making it nearly impossible for a fraudster to open a new account in your name, even if they have your personal information.\nWhat to Do if You Believe Your Child's Identity Has Been Stolen\n---------------------------------------------------------------\nIf you've confirmed that your child's identity has been compromised, try to remain calm. Depending on what type of information was stolen, there are a few different routes you can take to remedy the situation.\nIf your child's Social Security number was compromised, contact one or all of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) to lock your child's credit file and protect against fraudsters continuing to use their information. If an account was opened in your child's name, you'll also want to contact the bank or institution that the account was opened with. Be prepared with all the documents and evidence that will be needed to prove that your child is yours and that they did not open the account in question.\nIf another aspect of your child's information was taken, like their usernames or passwords, make sure they log in to all their online accounts and change their credentials as soon as possible. Also check that a hacker hasn't used any of their accounts for malicious purposes. Check for fraudulently sent emails and messages, because many times hackers will send malicious emails or messages from compromised accounts.\nOnce you've taken the appropriate steps to secure your child's credit reports and accounts, you should also consider reporting the identity theft to the proper authorities. You can make a report the illegal activity to the Federal Trade Commission. You can also contact the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit organization focused on helping victims of identity theft resolve their cases. END