The Birds And The Bees - And The Internet

Safeguarding your child is the number one responsibility of anyparent. Doing so requires vigilance and there are many things yourkids need to know. In this day and age, it is not easy. Thecomplexity of protecting your child goes well beyond scraped kneesor a first crush. The internet with all its advantages also comeswith a dark side. If you think the internet is relatively safe andharmless, think again for predators and thieves abound.

Take for instance identity theft. Hundreds of online businessesare finding inactive Social Security numbers online - most of whichare assigned to children under the age of 18 who have not startedusing them yet - and selling them under different names to helppeople establish fake credit. The scheme may lead to significantdebts for children that might be almost impossible to pay off. TheBetter Business Bureau is warning parents to be on the lookout forthe signs that point to their child's identity being compromised orstolen.

For adults, last year alone, 8.1 million Americans became victimsof ID theft, resulting in the loss of $37 billion, according to a2011 report from Javelin Strategy and Research. While this number isextraordinary high, NBC TODAY reports that it becomes harder todefine how many children are actually affected by identity theftbecause of the fact that most cases go undiscovered for years.However, an identity theft monitoring company, Debix, found analarming 4,000 cases of tainted identities, out of only 40,000children.

It's terrifying to think that your child's identity could becomprised for the sole reason that they have a clean record. It isextremely important that parents take the necessary precautions toensure the safety of their child's precious and helpless identity.

The BBB urges parents to follow these important steps to securetheir child's identity:

Be aware of how to obtain your child's credit report. Gettingaccess to your child's records is actually a different process thanobtaining your own. Your child's report cannot be obtained using thecongressionally mandated free credit report website(AnnualCreditReport.com) when under the age of 13 and even sometimesfor children ages 14 to 18.

For parents with children under the age of 13, the easiest way toobtain your child's records is through Trans Union. According to NBCTODAY, if Trans Union says there is no report, odds are good thatyour child is in the clear. But if there is a report - or you have aspecific reason to believe your child is a victim - you'll want tofollow up with the nation's other two major credit bureaus -Experian and Equifax - and get a report from them, too.

Recognize the signs of trouble. Watch out for red flags thatindicate there might be a problem, such as your son or daughterreceiving pre-approved credit card offers or calls from collectionagencies.

Know what to do if you suspect that your child has fallen victim.According to the FTC, every parent should check their child's creditreport on their 16th birthday. It's not good to check it too oftensince numerous inquiries can hurt a credit score, but checking atage 16 then leaves sufficient time to fix errors and activity beforetheir child goes off to college and tries to obtain financial aid.If suspicious activity arises, parents must contact all three creditbureaus and request a report immediately. From there depending onyour state's credit freeze rule, placing a credit freeze should beconsidered.

Have "the talk" with your kids. It's a fact, get used to it, yourchild is growing up in a connected world. Texting, Facebook andbrowsing the Internet are not just a means of communicating andfinding information, it is their world. Knowing how to act and whatsort of information they should not share is as important as lockingthe front door at night. Help them to choose their friends in reallife and online, wisely.

Edward Johnson is president and CEO of the Better Business Bureauserving the eastern and northeastern Pennsylvania region.