How can parents protect kids from identity theft?

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I am warrants in -- Eddie you're watching fox extra time -- identity -- is one of the fastest growing types and I.

300%.

-- Mason a leading prevention expert is here to give us advice on how to protect kids I don't.

I organ banks for joining us so what -- -- the best ways in your opinion to protect child went and then -- up.

Well it is you point out child identity theft is one of the fastest growing forms of identity -- in -- the fastest growing -- and what many parents don't realize is the crime often -- happens right under their noses and it's not until the child reaches sixteen or seventeen years old when they're actually applying for credit.

When they realize that the identity has been compromise.

In terms of how it happens there -- various ways that child identity theft can occur and primarily it's through all of the information that parents provide records to schools are doctors' offices or on their tax forms and and if that information gets in the wrong hands all the thief needs is a Social Security number to be able to.

Begin to do some damage on that child and I.

Can imagine that online in this social -- Things get a little bit worse right so we should watch out for what we're posting into the Internet these days precisely and as a society where -- very trusting society where we share a ton of information social media propagate its get that sharing.

And what children are doing is there sharing a lot of information about themselves that could eventually lead to compromised identity.

-- if your kids identity is compromised what should you do as a pair.

The few things so be on the lookout for any suspicious activity so unsolicited credit card offers any sort of suspicious calls from collection agencies.

In denial of credit and that occurs when the child is old enough to actually establish some credit that's a red flag you have come -- it doesn't have a credit card exact.

Why would fit right.

What what what could have happened yet so what we encourage people to do if in fact there's been a breach is immediately contact credit bureaus I don't worry about all three of them Trans Union Experian Equifax right let them know that a crime has occurred.

Make sure you speak to their fraud department -- make sure you follow please report to make sure all of this is is documented extremely well.

And contact the FTC let them know the child identity theft has occurred in make sure that all the accounts that were opened.

Our clothes and -- close as a result of fraud.

And for an extra layer protection if if parents want to create kind of a baseline they're different services like -- guard and others that can allow parents to did get a little more peace of mind than it would otherwise and I can imagine that this takes years to -- It can it can take very long time to clear up.

Thank you so much for joining us and for all that advice John Mason for more check out his latest -- bankrupt -- birth why child ID theft.

Is on the rise and how it's happening right under parents' noses.

And that's it for fox extra points in -- -- thanks for watching.

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How can parents protect kids from identity theft?

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