Nov 10, 2008 4:00 pm US/Eastern
3 On Your Side: Protecting Kids From ID Theft
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
There are all kinds of programs in school these days teaching children the importance of money, from learning how to save to staying out of debt. But 3-On Your Side's Jim Donovan found there's something kids aren't learning in school or at home and it could cost them down the road.
Zach Friesen's identity was stolen back when he was just seven years old by a complete stranger. He didn't find out until he applied for a job and college loans. Ever since he's spent years trying to clean up his credit. According to Friesen, "A lot of people can get loans that are much better than me, they cost a lot less to do things, get an apartment, a car."
Linda Foley of The Identity Theft Resource Center says children now-a-days are more vulnerable to identity theft. "This is the crime of their generation, it's an information-age crime," says Foley.
The Center wants ID theft to be on the lesson plan in every school and recently released a video for teachers and parents to share with their kids about identity thieves. Foley says, "People write and ask innocent questions, or what appear to be innocent questions. 'what's your first pets name?', 'what county were you born in?', 'what's your birthday'?"
With answers to those critical questions, they can get a birth certificate or social security number, loans and credit cards.
"A social security number doesn't have a date of birth on it, therefore a credit issuer is blind," says Foley.
Friesen agrees saying, "Kids putting things like their social, job resumes and as a result they have a big leak of information." He now tries to teach others about the risks and offers a word of caution. "Know what information can hurt you in the wrong hands and how to keep it safe," says Friesen.
The Identity Theft Resource Center recommends that parents sit with their children and explain how even innocent information such as their birthdate and hometown, might be enough for a thief to take the info and run.
RELATED LINK:http://www.idtheftcenter.org/
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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