You know the saying “like stealing candy from a baby.” These days, thieves find pocketing a young child’s identity just as trouble-free.

In today’s fast-paced world, parents are aware of the steps needed to protect their child from a stranger or on-line predator, but what about guarding them from identity theft? It can and does happen.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that five percent of all identity theft cases are child victims with 54 percent of those victims being children less than six years of age.

“From birth, every person’s identity is of value and access must be protected from day one,” says 1st Sgt. Bob Chappell, Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Salem Field Office. “Thieves have learned that a child’s information holds an intrinsic value because the likelihood of being exposed, as the thief, is greatly reduced.”

Child victims are targeted by scam artists because few children have Social Security numbers already established. Thieves can easily apply and obtain a Social Security number because all they need is a child’s name and date of birth.

It could be years or decades before the theft is discovered. The crime opens the door for unlimited abuse of a child’s identity that may not be discovered until that child turns 18, but it also becomes extremely difficult for that child to prove the theft to government entities.

“Child identity theft is a potential threat every parent, grandparent and guardian needs to be aware of,” says Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, VSP Superintendent. “Arming yourself with the right information and taking steps to avoid identity theft will help safeguard a child’s identity and prevent criminals from ruining a child’s future credit history.”

There are ways you can protect your child or to detect identity theft:

- Keep an eye out for the following identity theft indicators: a child receiving credit card offers in the mail; telemarketers calling for your child; bills received in the child’s name; or creditors calling or mailing letters to your child.

- When sports leagues, medical providers, schools or anyone else requests a copy of a child’s birth certificate be sure to ask: Why they need it? How do they plan to safeguard such information? Will the group or school return or destroy a birth certificate when no longer needed?

- Find out if providing a child’s Social Security number is truly necessary for registration or a personal file. See if there is some other tracking number available in the place of a Social Security number.

If you are concerned that your child may be a victim then request a copy of their credit report from one of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax (800) 525-6285; Experian (888) 397-3742; or TransUnion (800) 680-7289.

For more information on preventing ID theft, go to the Federal Trade Commission’s Website.