Is Your Child at Risk of Identity Theft? What Every Parent Should Know

Many parents assume identity theft can only happen to adults with bank accounts and credit cards. When it comes to their children, parents mainly worry about screen time and online safety. However, children’s identities have always been on fraudsters' radar.  

Why? They have clean credit histories and unused Social Security numbers. Do you know any kids who monitor their credit? We don’t, and financial institutions rarely check for anomalies, meaning that identity theft can go undetected for years.

This gives criminals ample leeway to engage in fraudulent loans, medical identity theft, or the creation of synthetic identities.  

Why Kids Are Prime Targets for Identity Theft

Children’s identities offer criminals something rarely found in adults: a blank slate. A child’s Social Security number hasn’t been used for bank accounts, credit lines, or government services. That makes it perfect for:

• Opening credit cards or taking out loans
• Applying for government benefits
• Setting up utility services
• Building synthetic identities that mix real SSNs with fake names or addresses

Additionally, parents typically don’t monitor their children’s credit, which means fraud can go unnoticed for a decade or longer.

Data leaks affect children too

It’s not just the data of adults that can be found in data breaches and leaks. Many kids’ details have been exposed in incidents involving educational platforms, toy manufacturers, hospitals and gaming or streaming services. Once leaked, a child’s information can circulate for years in criminal marketplaces.

The Rise of ‘Sharenting’ Increases Risk

Not long ago, a child’s life story lived in photo albums. Today, those same moments often end up online. According to a recent BBC report, this practice known as sharenting can quietly put children at risk in ways most parents never imagined.

Experts warn that these posts can follow children into adulthood. Innocent photos shared today may fuel impersonation, harassment, or even AI-generated deepfakes years down the line. And because children can’t meaningfully consent, they inherit a digital trail created before they had the chance to understand it.

This doesn’t mean parents should stop celebrating their kids. But it does mean slowing down, taking a breath, and asking: Does my child need this moment online? Making the safer choice is to avoid posting full names, birthdays, school details, and location-tagged images.

Scammers know how to target families

Family-oriented scams are rising, from fake school portals and fraudulent parent emails to messaging apps tricking kids into sharing personal details “for a contest,” “a game upgrade,” or even “homework login verifications.”

The effects are very real. For example, a child’s identity can be flagged by a debt collector for unpaid utility bills after a stranger opens an account using their identity, or uses it to create fraudulent credit cards and file fraudulent tax returns.

How to Protect Your Kids from Identity Theft

1.      Freeze Your Child’s Credit

If you’re in the US, freezing your child's credit is one of the strongest protective steps you can take, and it’s free. Contact all three major credit bureaus to request a manual credit freeze for minors at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

You’ll need to gather your child’s birth certificate, Social Security card, your government-issued ID, proof of guardianship, as well as a utility bill with your address.

Don’t forget to keep confirmation letters safe, as they are required to unfreeze the credit when your child grows up and needs it legitimately.

2.      Safe App and Device Settings to Help Protect Their Identity

Identity theft doesn’t always start with a Social Security number. Sometimes it begins with an app that asks for too much information or a device with overly relaxed privacy settings.

Here are some actions parents can take:

• Restrict permissions (camera, microphone, contacts, and location).
• Lock down school-issued devices: schools often ship them with broad permissions enabled.
• Check privacy settings on social and gaming apps like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Roblox, and gaming platforms.
• Turn off location sharing unless absolutely necessary.
• Teach kids to deny unexpected data requests from apps, pop-ups, and games.

3.      Use Parental Controls and Identity Monitoring

Parental controls help with more than screen time — they’re a strong layer of privacy protection. Pair them with identity monitoring tools that can help detect unauthorized exposure of sensitive data. Try Bitdefender parental control available in all of our family plans.

4.      Install Security Solution on Household Devices

Protecting a child’s identity isn’t just about what you post or which apps they download. It also depends on the security of the devices they use every day. A strong, reputable security solution blocks risks attempts before they reach your children. Bitdefender's award-winning security solutions detect malicious downloads, scan links for hidden threats, warn kids about unsafe websites, and stop shady apps from harvesting more information than they should. Our family plans also include built-in parental controls, identity-monitoring alerts, and anti-phishing protection.

Warning Signs Your Child Might Be a Victim

• Bills or debt collection notices in your child's name
• Denied government benefits because they’re “already claimed”
• School, insurance, or healthcare anomalies
• Phone calls or mail addressed to a minor
• A credit report exists for a child under 18 (they shouldn’t have one)

If You Suspect Your Child’s Identity Has Been Stolen

If something feels off, act quickly:

• Secure your accounts: strengthen passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and update recovery email/phone numbers.
• Freeze your child’s credit at all three bureaus.
• Create a plan at IdentityTheft.gov, which generates recovery documentation automatically.
• Monitor ongoing exposure with identity protection tools.
• Document everything—letters, emails, and any proof of fraudulent activity.

FAQs

What is the #1 type of identity theft?

The most common type is financial identity theft, where someone uses another person’s information to open accounts or make purchases.

How do I protect my child’s identity?

A few high-impact steps make a big difference. Start by freezing your child’s credit, limiting personal details shared online, ensuring good digital hygiene and monitoring for leaked personal data online.

What is an example of child identity theft?

A classic example is when a criminal uses a child’s Social Security number to open a credit card or connect utilities. Families often discover the fraud years later, typically when a teen applies for a driver’s license, school loan, or car loan and discovers they already have a credit history filled with debt they never incurred.