SPECIAL REPORT: Stealing an innocent identity - Is your child a victim?

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SOUTH BEND -- Your two-year old child could be bankrupt. Your newborn could be thousands of dollars in debt. One in 10 children are victims of identity theft.

The younger the child, the more likely they'll be a victim.

"There's a significant escalation of identity theft with kids,” said Dr. Jesse Hsieh, President of the Board of Trustees at the South Bend Clinic.

Doctors see it, others track it.

According to ALL CLEAR ID, a fraud protection website, identity theft has doubled in the past year for children five years old and younger.

"It's scary how easy it is for people to get that information so easily and then ruin what could be this child's future," said mother of three, Katie Neeser.

The Federal Trade Commission said there have been 57,000 child identity theft cases reported to them in the past three years.

Dr. Hsieh said social media is one big red flag - Facebook, Twitter, Flickr.

"There are many people throughout the world that can see what your child's name is, what date they were born, who their parents are, where they were born, and tie that to a social security number."

Strangers are constantly creeping on your Facebook profile - making your kids easy targets.

It's an attractive scam for thieves because kids have a clean slate when it comes to credit. A person stealing your child's identity could use their information for years because its goes undetected.

"There's nothing this child can do," Neeser said.

Think about it: How many of you check your toddler's credit?

"The first time I would think of it is when they're going to college, they're applying for credit cards," Neeser said.

The crime goes unnoticed - up until your child is denied for a job, a credit card or a student loan.

So how does someone steal your child's identity? The Federal Trade Commission lists these common ways

- Thieves create computer viruses to find personal documents that list your child's Social security number.

- The number gets in the wrong hands when you sign up your kids for school, camp, girl scouts, etc.

- The numbers are sometimes illegally sold online.

The crooks can't get your information if it's a challenge - so do everything you can to stop them from stealing. Here’s what the Federal Trade Commission recommends:

- If you have to post something on social media, limit Facebook posts to a picture and first name only - don't include your baby's birthday, hospital or physical details.

-Install antivirus software on your computer.

-Never give out your child's social security number and tell them not to give it out either.

-And the most important one - check your child's credit often.

"It’s absolutely worth it, just to protect them,” Neeser said. “Everything that’s out there right now, it’s so scary what can be done."

Katie's smart - she'll post a picture or video of her kids on Facebook - but shares the bare minimum...setting a solid example for other moms that may go a bit overboard on the web.

Experts say go beyond just a regular credit report and here's why-- when opening up a credit card or applying for a loan, not all banks verify that the name on the social security card matches the name of the person applying for the loan.

Regular credit reports may not pick up if someone is misusing your child's social security number under a difference name.

The Federal Trade Commission says to call one of these credit check companies and request a social security name search - tell them you are checking to see if your child's identity and credit are in the clear.

Experian 1-888-397-3742

Equifax 1-800-525-6285

TransUnion childidtheft@transunion.com

If your child is a victim of identity theft, email us at cferreira@wsbt.com - We would like to hear your story.

wsbt.com

SPECIAL REPORT: Stealing an innocent identity - Is your child a victim?

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