CSID illustrates the rise of child identity theft in U.S. and offers prevention tips in infographic

 Austin, TX – February 16, 2012 - One out of every ten children is targeted for identity theft.

 CSID, the leading provider of global, enterprise-level identity protection and fraud detection technologies and solution, today released an infographic illustrating the growth and causes of child identity theft, as well as tips for parents and guardians to combat the crime.

“Child identity theft is the fastest growing sector of the identity theft industry,” said John Sileo, CSID’s consumer security expert and author of Privacy Means Profit. “Because children have untouched and unblemished credit records, they are highly attractive targets. Thieves steal a child’s identity early on, nurture it until they have a solid credit score, and then abuse and discard it.”

 The crime often goes unnoticed until the victim applies for a first driver’s license, credit card or loan, when background and credit checks reveal the tainted records.

 What can thieves do with a child’s identity?

Child identity theft generally falls into one of three categories:

 1. Financial identity theft: The child’s name and Social Security Number (SSN) are used to establish new lines of credit.

 2. Criminal identity theft: A criminal uses the child’s identity to obtain a driver’s license or substitutes the child’s identity if caught in a criminal act.

 3. Identity cloning: The child’s identity (via information collection or a black market ‘purchase’ of personal information) is used for financial, criminal and governmental purposes.

 What are the solutions to child identity theft?

“In the same way that you can’t protect your children from every bruise and scrape, you can’t entirely remove the risk of identity theft,” Sileo says. “You can, however, prevent or soften the fall if it does happen.”

 Sileo recommends that parents avoid giving out their child’s identifying information, such as Social Security Number, as much as possible. He also suggests that parents order credit reports for their children at least once a year to monitor for unwarranted activity. He notes that in certain circumstances, ordering a credit report can create a credit profile in the child’s name that did not exist before.

 CSID’s infographic provides warning signs that a child’s identity has been stolen and offers additional proactive tips for parents.

 For more information on CSID’s Child Protector technology, visit www.csid.com.

About CSID

CSID is the leading provider of global, enterprise-level identity protection and fraud detection technologies and solutions to the world’s top companies and government organizations. With CSID’s advanced enterprise-level solutions, businesses can take a proactive approach to protecting the identities of their customers all around the world. Products go beyond credit monitoring and include full-service identity theft protection; insurance and restoration; identity authentication and voice biometrics; and proactive breach preparation from discovery to resolution.

About John Sileo

John Sileo is an award-winning author and international speaker on the dark art of deception (identity theft, data privacy, social media manipulation) and it’s polar opposite, the powerful use of trust, to achieve success. He is CEO of The Sileo Group, which advises teams on how to multiply performance by building a culture of deep trust. His clients include the Department of Defense, Pfizer, the FDIC, and Homeland Security. Learn more at ThinkLikeASpy.com. 

For more information, contact:

Helen Rodriguez
INK Public Relations for CSID
512.382.8988
csid@ink-pr.com