Identity theft is a major issue and thieves will still anybody’s identity, even that of your toddler. While your toddler probably isn’t giving away their vital information online, it is possible that you are doing that for them. So, it is important to take the same precautions for your toddler’s identity as it is for your own. Otherwise, they will almost certainly run into issues later on in life.
As a reminder, never post your toddler’s social security number online no matter who asks for it. There is absolutely no need to give this information away to anybody except the IRS. If you are filling your tax paperwork out online, then make sure you do it at home with a secure connection. That way no one can accidentally get a hold of the information. It is the only time that this information should go online. There is no need to give this information out online to any other institutions such as a bank that claims they need to know it. In fact if it is asked for, immediately report the email. It is most assuredly a scam.
In addition, don’t carry around their social security card. Carry it with you only when there is a specific need for it, such as a visit to a brand new doctor’s office. Otherwise, you should store it in a very secure place in your home. This way, you won’t lose it as easily and you won’t have to go through the hassle of replacing it if your wallet disappears. Make sure to keep their birth certificate in a secure place as well.
Be aware of what you personally post online about your toddler’s date of birth and other vital pieces of information such as their address. This is another critical piece of information for identity thieves to have. Yes, it is easy to forget that you need to delete this information if you have posted notices about their birth. But, it is essential to at least wipe away the date in the more obvious places such as on your Facebook page or on any other social networking site. You don’t want to make it easy for identity thieves to find your child’s birthdate.
Your toddler’s identity is important for their future. Protecting it is as vital as protecting your own. So, make sure you take all the proper precautions to prevent your toddler’s information from being stolen.