Children's identities are stolen more often than most parents realize — partly because no one's watching the credit history.
How It Happens
- Data breaches at schools or doctor's offices
- Phishing through games, apps, or social media
- Family members with access to personal information
What You Can Do
- Never share your child's full Social Security number unless legally required
- Check their credit report annually
- Use a child-safe app like Gollak so their financial activity is visible
- Teach them to spot phishing — quizzes, prizes, "verify your account" messages