| One of the ever rising criminal acts in the United | | | | possibly some medical documents. |
| States over the past five years has become identity | | | | 2. Refrain from giving your child their social security |
| theft. More and more Americans are purchasing | | | | card or number. They really do not need it unless |
| paper shredders and are refraining from giving out | | | | they are applying for a job or applying to college |
| their personal information over the internet. What | | | | 3. Explain to your child why it is important that they |
| people are not so aware of is that their children are | | | | do not carry their social security card with them and |
| at risk for identity theft as well. To a criminal a child's | | | | that they do not give it out to anyone. If they are |
| social security number is much more valuable than an | | | | young adults they will understand what identity theft |
| adult's. It is less likely for a child to realize that their | | | | is and why it is a crime |
| social has been stolen. They are most likely not going | | | | 4. Shred any papers that have your child's social |
| to apply for a loan until they are in college or apply | | | | security number on it. |
| for a credit card until they are at least 18 years of | | | | 5. If your child is going away to college and will be |
| age. This is why to a criminal a child's SSN is | | | | carrying his or her medical insurance card with them it |
| invaluable. Here are some things that you can do to | | | | is important that you remove his or her social |
| protect your child against identity theft. | | | | security number from the card or ask the medical |
| 1. Do not give your child's social security number out. | | | | insurance carrier to print a card without their social |
| There really is no reason that you should have to | | | | security number on it. There is no reason for them |
| with the exception of on your tax returns and | | | | to carry that in their wallet. |