Child Identity Theft

Children make a tempting target for identity thieves since the theft of a child's identity may go undetected for years. Most parents apply for a Social Security Number after a new baby is born. A Social Security Number is all that's required to open most credit accounts. It could be years until a child applies for credit in his/her own name—that allows years for an identity theft to go undetected. And that could create serious consequences:

• Identity theft will affect your child's credit and employment history if the thieves (who sometimes turn out to be family members), obtain credit cards or even get jobs.
• If the thieves are arrested for other crimes, those crimes will go on your child's record.

How would you know if your child's identity has been stolen?

• Your child begins to receive suspicious mail, like pre-approved credit cards and other financial offers normally sent to adults, in his/her own name.
• You try to open a financial account for him/her but find one already exists, or the application is denied because of a poor credit history.
• A credit report already exists in his/her name. If the child has one, he/she probably has been targeted already, since only an application for credit starts a report.

If you suspect that identity thieves may have targeted your child, TransUnion can help.  Please use our secure online form to submit details about your concerns.

The more detailed the information you provide, the more thoroughly we can investigate the existence of a potential credit file in your child's name.

Remember, you are initiating this communication with TransUnion, one of the three national credit reporting companies; we will use this information only to conduct the search you request.  We will not include this detailed information in any return correspondence to you.

After our search is complete, we will respond to you at the e-mail address you provided.

If we locate a file in your child's name, we will ask you for additional information in order to proceed with steps designed to protect your child from any current or future impact associated with this fraudulent activity. The more promptly you respond to this request, the more quickly we can take action on your family's behalf.  The Fraud Victim Assistance Department (FVAD) team is pleased to assist you with this important issue.