By Sandra Guile
Better Business Bureau
As the end of another summer approaches, school bells will start to signal the signing of forms, forms, and more forms. For parents, it can be exhausting filling out the endless sheets of paper for the numerous activities their kids are involved in – and all of that information may be putting the child’s identity in danger. Before filling out personal details, make sure you know how to keep your kid’s identifying information secure.
Keep it Need-to-Know
As you get started, consider how much of your child’s information you’re sharing and determine whether or not it’s necessary. Under the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act, schools are required to notify parents and guardians about their school directory policy and allow them to opt out if they prefer. Removing your child from the list can cut down on how much of their personal information is shared with third parties, effectively limiting the chances for scammers to get their hands on it.
education, elementary school, learning, technology and people concept – group of kids with teacher looking to computer monitor in classroom and virtual screen projection
Don’t carry your child’s Social Security card around in your wallet all the time – ask the school if you need to bring it to add to their records before you leave. If they say that it is required, ask them why that is and what they plan to do to protect that information. When the forms are no longer necessary, make sure to shred them using a cross-cut shredder. Consider giving your college student a shredder to take with them when they go to school so that they can destroy any identifying documents or junk mail that could be used for identity theft.
Be Social, But Be Careful
If your child has a cell phone, tablet, or other mobile devices with regular access to social media sites, there are a few things to have them keep in mind before they log on. Let them know what they should and shouldn’t share – things like their full name, address, birth date, and passwords can be used to steal their identity. There are services available to download on mobile devices that allow parents to monitor their kids’ online activity, so consider signing up for these programs to watch their Web habits and keep an eye out for shady sites that require personal details.
Lock It Up
To take additional precautions in protecting your child’s information, some states allow you to freeze their credit record. Credit reporting agencies create and freeze a minor’s credit record at the request of the child or their parent; this prevents a thief from opening any accounts or lines of credit in the kid’s name. The account is opened once the child turns 16, but other than that, the only way to access the account is if the parent or child requests it directly. Check with your State Attorney General Office for more information.
Report It
The beginning of the school year is stressful, but start the first semester off with a little peace of mind. Keep your child’s information as safe as possible, and speak with them about potential risks they can encounter online. If their information is stolen, report it local law enforcement immediately and visit identitytheft.gov for a complete recovery plan. Then, report it to BBB’s Scam Tracker.
Sandra Guile is the Community Outreach Specialist for BBB. She promotes BBB’s message of marketplace ethics through public speaking engagements, presentations, media relations, press releases, web content, and other written materials. Contact Sandra at (513) 639-9126 or sguile@cincinnati.bbb.org. Your BBB is located at 1 East 4th Street Suite 600 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 – to reach the office, call (513) 421-3015.
