Annual Probability of Child Identity Theft

Approximately 1 million children in the US are victims of identity theft each year, representing about 1% of all minors. Children's identities are particularly attractive to criminals because their Social Security numbers have no associated credit history (a clean slate), and the theft often goes undetected for years until the child applies for their first credit card, student loan, or job.

Studies have found that children in foster care are at particularly high risk (up to 3 times more likely to be victims), as their personal information passes through many hands. Family members are perpetrators in about 73% of child identity theft cases, making it even harder to detect and report. Other sources include data breaches affecting schools and pediatric healthcare providers.

The consequences can be severe: victims may discover damaged credit, outstanding debts, or even criminal records attached to their identity when they turn 18. The average family spends 16 months and $1,128 resolving child identity theft. Prevention measures include freezing your child's credit (free in all states since 2018), monitoring for unauthorized use of their SSN, teaching children about online safety, and being cautious about sharing children's personal information online or with institutions.