Department of Revenue Warns Parents to Guard their Children’s Personal Information

Posted on March 6, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

As odd as it may sound, the Indiana Department of Revenue is asking individuals to check their children’s credit reports, regardless of their age.

Identity thieves are always looking for identities that can be used for many years which is why children are typically seen as apt targets since thieves can to use their information unnoticed for a while.

Often times the theft is not discovered until the child grows up and applies for a student loan or a credit card and gets denied for having large amounts of debt or bad credit; it is only then that they realize their identity has been stolen and used for several years.

To prevent this from happening to your child, the IDOR tells parents to refrain from carrying their child’s social security card with them and they suggest that parents check their child’s credit report annually.

If parents recognize that identity theft has occurred early enough, they will have time to correct any errors on the report before it affects a child’s chance of getting a job, taking out a college loan or receiving a credit card.

Additionally, before sharing any of a child’s personal information, ask why it is needed and how it will be protected and be sure that you’re providing those details to a legitimate source. Don’t be afraid to ask for proof that the information will be protected. There’s no such thing as asking too many questions when it comes to protecting your child’s identity.

If you fear that you or your child have been victims of identity theft, follow the link provided for additional IDOR resources related to identity theft.

AARP Official Offers ID Theft Prevention Tips

April 30, 2016AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

Identity thieves are constantly scheming ways to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting consumers. AARP-Indiana Community Outreach Director Mandla Moyo says someone is a victim of identity theft every two to three seconds. He urges people to protect not only their Social Security numbers but also their date of birth and address.

He says people can take that information and open credit cards in your name and purchase big-ticket items they would not otherwise be able to afford. If your checkbook or debit card is stolen, they are able to use it to clean out your account by making bogus purchases.

Moyo says identity thieves also steal information via telephone. One common ruse is claiming to be a Microsoft representative and advising they need to fix a problem with your computer. When they sign in they are able to access stored passwords, bank account login and other personal information, which they then then use to commit fraud

Moyo encourages consumers to take advantage of the free credit reports offered by the credit bureaus and check them carefully for fraudulent activity. He also recommends freezing or locking your credit to keep thieves from using your information to open accounts. He says a credit lock can be unlocked by providing a PIN or access code. If you do discover your identity has been stolen, Moyo says you should notify the police immediately and also contact your financial institution and the credit reporting agencies.