Discovering that you are a victim of identity theft can be heart-wrenching and scary. Discovering your child is a victim can be even more so. Unfortunately, children make increasingly appealing targets for identity thieves, their Aadhaar card or PAN card can be used to open bank accounts, apply for loans, or secure a rental agreement. Where adults have a credit report and can see changes in their credit profile, child identity theft can often go undetected for many years – making it more difficult to resolve.

In September 2016, UNICEF India launched the first comprehensive report on child online safety in India. According to the report, today’s generation of connected, savvy children have become the unwitting victim of numerous frauds including Identity theft, phishing, hacking and other financial frauds.

A child’s Aadhaar card or PAN card number is used frequently – from school records to library memberships to physicians’ patient records and any other number of extracurricular activities.

Help safeguard your child’s identity with these easy steps:

• Before giving out your child’s Aadhaar card or PAN card number, ask if there’s an alternative. Even when requested, you don’t actually have to provide the number. As a parent, you should ask why it is needed, how the number will be used, and what the consequences are if you refuse.
• Never allow your child to carry his or her Aadhaar card or PAN card with them. These documents should always be kept in a secure location inside of the home.
• Monitor the type of mail your child receives. Any credit card offers, pre-approved credit lines, or collection notices are a red flag. Take immediate action.
• Educate your child about the importance of keeping personal information private when using social networking sites. Identity thieves can use social media to piece together for scams.

Keep your child in-the-know about “phishing” scams that use unsolicited emails to acquire personal information. Make sure he or she knows to never respond or provide important data like full name, birth date, place of birth, or passwords to those asking online.