 TITLE: What Is Child Identity Theft? CONTENT: How Child Identity Theft Can Happen\n-----------------------------------\nChild identity theft comes in many shapes and sizes. And while most children do not have multiple bank accounts or lines of credit, they still have a plethora of personal information that fraudsters can get their hands on.\nFrom social media credentials to social security numbers, fraudsters will steal anything and everything they can. Compromised logins and passwords can give them access to other online accounts, and having social security numbers can allow them to open new accounts in your child's name.\nWhat thieves get when they steal your child's identity depends on what type of accounts or information your child shares. Here are some popular ways fraudsters get their hands on people's personal information:\n*   **Phishing scams.** Phishing is when fraudsters use email or the telephone to trick you into giving them your personal information.\n*   **Hacking.** Hackers are constantly trying to infiltrate large systems to steal user data. Both small and large companies can be hacked, and if your child has an account with a company that's been hacked, their information may be exposed.\n*   **Theft in the family.** Unfortunately, a good amount of child identity theft occurs within families. Family members can take important documents and open accounts in children's names, and the close proximity can make it easy to go undetected. Be careful to secure your child's personal documents, even around family and friends. END