Identity Theft’s Youngest Victims: Children and Teens

Applying for that first credit card or opening that first checking account should be an exciting step for teens. But for some, this could be the moment when they discover that they’ve been victimized by identity theft. Children are susceptible because it is often years before they attempt to apply for credit, leaving the thief plenty of time to abuse their credit and vanish.

A story posted on MSN Money gives a sobering look at the impact of identity theft to our children.

The article tells about a 17-year-old from California who went in to open a checking and savings account at the bank only to discover his Social Security Number was under someone else’s name. The young man’s identity had been stolen years before when he was only 12. Now as a college graduate he has been “financially crippled” by the bad credit the thief left behind.

It's important to be proactive.

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Written by Aleshia Altizer, a Corporate Writer at Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. Pre-Paid Legal's signature products, including the Life Events Legal Plan and Identity Theft Shield, serve more than 1.5 million families in North America.