A new service aims to help families stop identity fraud of children.
According to a report from Javelin Strategy & Research, more than 1 million children were victims of identity theft in 2017. Two-thirds of those children were 7 or younger.
Starting next month, parents can check and freeze their child’s credit files, without having to pay.
First, go to identitytheft.gov to begin. Then, select the “Child Identity Theft” option under the “Special Forms of Identity Theft” section.
A red flag to watch for is if your child has a credit report; they should not at an early age. The website will guide you on how to obtain a credit report through Experian, Trans Union and Equifax.
If your child does not have a credit file, experts recommend you start one and then freeze it.
Families can start using this service on Sept. 21.