When parents think about protecting their children from online dangers, identity theft is probably not the first thing that comes to mind, but it should be. According to a 2018 study by Javelin Strategy & Research, more than 1 million children were victims of identity theft or fraud in 2017, and two-thirds of those victims were 7 years of age or younger.
Children are actually the perfect target for identity thieves. While adults are typically marked by thieves to access money in existing accounts, a child represents a different malicious opportunity – a clean slate for opening new lines of credit that may not be detected until years down the road when the damage has already been done. Children of all ages are vulnerable; what does that mean to employers? As employees and their families become more digitally dependent, identity theft protection is becoming more important than ever before.
The internet is a handy resource for children to learn, communicate and entertain themselves. On the other hand, it can expose them to virtual and real-world threats including identity theft. If a child’s identity is stolen, the employee will likely be the one to clean up any issues, which will almost certainly cause stress and take focus away from their job.
Medical and Identity theft monitoring from MedCareComplete is the best ally for employees and their families in today’s digital world.
