More than one million children were victims of identity theft in 2017, according to a report by Javelin Strategy & Research. Parents and grandparents aren’t powerless, though. The first thing you need is rock-solid anti-virus software program. Norton Security Online blocks out all the malware, viruses, and ransomware that could compromise your family’s most sensitive personal information, and it does it in real time. A single subscription applies to PCs, Macs, Android devices, iPhones, and yes, the iPads your kids are glued to.

Here’s a sobering statistic: kids are 51 times more likely than adults to have their identities stolen, according to a 2011 study by Carnegie Mellon’s CyLab. Minors are targeted for two very simple reasons: they have no credit history, and no one is looking. All a scammer needs is a kid’s social security number to open bank and credit card accounts, apply for loans or utilities, or even rent an apartment, according to the FTC. 

You shouldn’t wait for signs of child identity theft though. Be proactive by asking for a manual search of a child’s credit file. Be ready to provide proof of identity, like the child’s birth certificate and social security card. If you discover fraud, report it directly to the companies involved. The FTC also suggests reporting identity theft to the credit bureaus themselves, explaining that your child is a minor who was never even authorized to incur such debt. And always report identity theft of any kind to IdentityTheft.gov or call 877-ID-THEFT. Once you know your child’s credit file is clear, consider a child credit freeze, which is effective until the child is of age to use credit.