Protecting Children’s Personal Information
Protecting Children’s Personal Information
Children’s identities are popular to steal. Their credit history is clean, making it easy for thieves to to apply for credit. But there are steps you can take to protect your child.
Request a credit freeze for your child — if this service is available in your state. A credit freeze will make it difficult for someone to use your child’s information to open accounts. To place a freeze, follow the specific instructions for each credit bureau:
No matter what state you live in, you can check to see if your child has a credit report. Each bureau has specific instructions for these requests:
- Equifax
- Experian (Click on “Minor child instructions” under “Additional resources”)
- TransUnion
If a credit bureau has a credit report for your child, the credit bureau will send you a copy of the report. Use the instructions provided with the credit report to remove fraudulent accounts.
Review the FTC’s information on Child Identity Theft.