Cyberthieves Have a New Target: Children [telecom]

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It can take years before theft of a child's personal data - and the financial damage-is discovered

To the list of things we wish we could shield children from, add identity theft.

Cyberthieves target children because their identities offer a clean slate with which to apply for bank accounts, credit cards or loans, government benefits and tax breaks. Criminals will often combine a child's Social Security number with a fake date of birth and address to avoid suspicion, experts say.