Cybersecurity experts are urging parents to take proactive measures to protect their children’s identities following the recent PowerSchool data breach, which has affected school districts in Massachusetts and across the nation. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) recommends that parents freeze their children’s credit as a critical first step in safeguarding their personal information.
“In this particular instance, the single most important thing you can do is to freeze your child’s credit,” stated ITRC President James E. Lee. “Now, that’s a different process than freezing your own credit as an adult.”
Since individuals under 18 do not have established credit reports, they are vulnerable to identity theft. Criminals can exploit this by opening fraudulent accounts and taking out loans in the child’s name. This type of identity theft often goes undetected for years, potentially causing significant complications when the child applies for student loans or seeks employment.
“If we’re talking about an elementary-age student, they may be graduating high school, getting ready to go to college before you ever find out that someone has misappropriated their identity information,” Lee explained. “You find out when you’re applying for student loans, when you’re applying for a job – that’s the first time you find out that you have 10 years of work history that you’ve had since you were 4 or 5 years old.”
Freezing a child’s credit prevents criminals from opening new accounts using their identity. While security freezes are free, they must be placed separately with each of the three major nationwide credit bureaus. It’s important to note that each bureau may have slightly different requirements.
Parents and guardians will need to provide documentation to verify their identity, their child’s identity, and their relationship. This can include a copy of the child’s birth certificate, Social Security card, and a driver’s license or government-issued ID for the parent. These requests typically need to be submitted by mail. Once the paperwork is processed, parents will receive a confirmation letter, or a request for additional information. The entire process can take three to five business days.
The credit freeze will remain in place until the child turns 16 years old. For more information on how to stay protected and keep you and your family safe, it is recommended to visit the Identity Theft Resource Center.
