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Thefts and burglaries are common and stolen identities have become common as well, so it is not surprising that there are identity thefts among teenagers.
Identity thefts have become easier to do thanks to technology and the way we share our personal information online whether is for entertainment or for doing payments. Adults were usually the ones targeted, their bank accounts emptied and many other scams. But now, with teenagers being so present on the internet and having access to everything, including credit cards and bank accounts, they are becoming slowly but surely the new favorite target for hackers and identity thieves.
Why are teens the new target
Children and teenagers, just as adults have Social Security Numbers but they are obviously unused. Plus, they also have clean credit reports and they are a lot more likely than adults to share their personal data online, not thinking about being cautious as they are unaware of the risks.
A hacker or identity thief could use the SSN and the clean credit report to get a fake ID or to get employed or simply to sell them to someone who will in turn get a fake ID.
Teens usually share their personal information on social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. The information does not only refer to what you can find in the “about” sector but also to any posts that could point to the teen’s personal info.
Moreover, they use to share their location and check in wherever they are. This will let a hacker know where the teen lives and where and with whom they spend most of their time.
Teenagers almost never check their credit reports nor review their monthly bills, which means once they are stolen, years can pass before the victim realizes what has happened.
They also share their passwords or their banking info. All of these happen because teenagers are not completely aware of identity theft and how they can be affected.
What to do about it
Therefore, adults should raise awareness about it, whether it is done in schools or at home. Teenagers should be informed of the matter and thought how to protect themselves, by being more careful with their passwords or PINs as well as with whatever personal details they are sharing online.
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