$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
child identity theft scam
Criminals use children's Social Security numbers to open credit accounts, file tax returns, or commit other fraud, often going undetected for years until the child applies for credit.
“grandparent scam”
↑ 85%Key indicators
Usually targetsParents
Often hitsTech workers and developers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$1.4K
median reported loss
Typical range$90 – $9.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Criminals obtain children's Social Security numbers through data breaches, school records, medical records, or family members with access.
2
They pair the child's SSN with a different name and date of birth to create a synthetic identity used to open credit cards, loans, and utility accounts.
3
The fraud typically goes undetected for years because children do not check credit reports, and victims discover the damage only when they turn 18 and apply for credit or student loans.
What to do first
Check if your child has a credit file by contacting all three credit bureaus — if one exists and you did not create it, fraud has likely occurred.
Related terms
minor identity theftchild SSN fraudsynthetic child identity theftParent and family scamsWebsiteRisingParentsFamiliesChildrenTech workers and developersRetirees and seniorsParents and familiesUnited Statesminor identity theftchild SSN fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Maria, 38, a parents, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate parent and family scams situation while using Website. Criminals obtain children's Social Security numbers through data breaches, school records, medical records, or family members with access.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They pair the child's SSN with a different name and date of birth to create a synthetic identity used to open credit cards, loans, and utility accounts.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The fraud typically goes undetected for years because children do not check credit reports, and victims discover the damage only when they turn 18 and apply for credit or student loans.
The outcome
Maria realized something was wrong when your child receives pre-approved credit card offers, collection notices, or irs correspondence. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Check if your child has a credit file by contacting all three credit bureaus — if one exists and you did not create it, fraud has likely occurred. Maria's experience shows why your child receives pre-approved credit card offers, collection notices, or irs correspondence and you are unable to open a bank account or college savings plan for your child because of existing credit activity are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Your child receives pre-approved credit card offers, collection notices, or IRS correspondence
- You are unable to open a bank account or college savings plan for your child because of existing credit activity
- A data breach notification includes your child's personal information
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Check if your child has a credit file by contacting all three credit bureaus — if one exists and you did not create it, fraud has likely occurred.
- ✓Freeze your child's credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to prevent new accounts from being opened.
- ✓If identity theft is confirmed, file a report at identitytheft.gov and request fraud alerts with all three bureaus.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Javelin Strategy and Research found that over 1.25 million children were victims of identity theft in 2023, with 73% of victims knowing the perpetrator personally.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Check if your child has a credit file by contacting all three credit bureaus — if one exists and you did not create it, fraud has likely occurred.
- ✓Freeze your child's credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to prevent new accounts from being opened.
- ✓If identity theft is confirmed, file a report at identitytheft.gov and request fraud alerts with all three bureaus.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Javelin Strategy and Research found that over 1.25 million children were victims of identity theft in 2023, with 73% of victims knowing the perpetrator personally.
Javelin Child Identity Fraud Study 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Parents, Families, Children
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Website — Parent and family scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Parents are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Javelin Strategy and Research found that over 1.25 million children were victims of identity theft in 2023, with 73% of victims knowing the perpetrator personally.
Source notes
- Javelin Child Identity Fraud Study 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about child identity theft scam
How does the child identity theft scam work?+
Criminals obtain children's Social Security numbers through data breaches, school records, medical records, or family members with access. They pair the child's SSN with a different name and date of birth to create a synthetic identity used to open credit cards, loans, and utility accounts. The fraud typically goes undetected for years because children do not check credit reports, and victims discover the damage only when they turn 18 and apply for credit or student loans.
What are the warning signs of child identity theft scam?+
Your child receives pre-approved credit card offers, collection notices, or IRS correspondence You are unable to open a bank account or college savings plan for your child because of existing credit activity A data breach notification includes your child's personal information
What should I do if I encounter child identity theft scam?+
Check if your child has a credit file by contacting all three credit bureaus — if one exists and you did not create it, fraud has likely occurred. Freeze your child's credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to prevent new accounts from being opened. If identity theft is confirmed, file a report at identitytheft.gov and request fraud alerts with all three bureaus.
Who is most at risk for child identity theft scam?+
This scam primarily targets Parents, Families, Children. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Website.
Is child identity theft scam on the rise?+
child identity theft scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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