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Checking a Child’s Credit File for Signs of Identity Theft

This guide presents selected U.S. government consumer education from CFPB. References to “we” or “us” in the source material refer to the issuing agency. Source dates and links appear below.

How do I check to see if a child has a credit report?

If you are the parent or guardian of a minor child, or a caseworker for a child in foster care, you can contact the three nationwide credit reporting companies to request that they search their database for a credit report in a minor child’s name.

Tip

Children under age 18 generally do not have credit reports unless:

- Someone with a similar name as a minor child got a loan or another form of credit and a file was created in error

- An identity thief got a loan in a minor child’s name

- A minor child is an authorized user of an adult’s credit card or a joint account holder on an adult’s account

TransUnion

TransUnion has an online portal where parents or guardians can fill out and submit a Child Identity Theft Inquiry form. When you submit this form, you will find out whether there is a credit report in the child's name. If there is, TransUnion will contact you for additional information. If you want a copy of the credit report, TransUnion might require you to separately request a copy of the report by mail.

Check TransUnion’s website for the latest information, including information on how to freeze credit for a minor child.

Equifax

Equifax requires parents or guardians to contact them by mail. Check their website for the latest information, including how to get a copy of a minor child’s credit report and how to request a security freeze for a minor child.

Experian

Experian has an online portal where parents or guardians can fill out and submit Child Identity Theft Protection forms to:

  • Check if a minor has a credit report
  • Add a fraud alert for a minor
  • Add or remove a security freeze for minor

Check their website for the latest information.

Why is it important to check if a minor child has a credit report?

It’s important to review and correct errors in a child’s credit file. The information in the file could become visible when the child turns 18 or could be visible now if a credit reporting company has an incorrect date of birth associated with the information.

A minor child may have a credit report because of an error. For example, errors might occur if the child’s identifying information, such as their name, is the same as a parent, because credit information for the two can get mixed up.

Another reason a minor child may have a credit report is because of child identity theft, which is a growing problem. One study indicated that approximately 2.5 percent of U.S. households with children under age 18 experienced child identity fraud at some point. Identity thieves sometimes target children’s Social Security numbers because children have no credit blemishes and because the fraudulent activity may go unchecked for years. Possible warning signs that a child is a victim of identity theft include receiving bills, credit card offers, or debt collection calls in the child’s name.

In addition, children may legitimately have information on file at a credit bureau in some limited circumstances, such as if they are listed as an authorized user or joint account holder on an adult’s account.

Tip

For more details on the steps to take if a child is a victim of identity theft, visit the FTC's Child Identity Theft article.

How to dispute errors and identity theft on a child’s credit report

Once you have the child’s credit file, review it for errors. Inaccurate information on a credit report can have a significant impact on their ability to get credit later in life. If you find errors, you can dispute them by contacting both the credit reporting company and also the company that held the account.

If you believe your child or a child in your care is a victim of identity theft, you should contact each of the credit reporting companies to explain that the child is a minor and can't legally enter into any type of contract.

To prove that the child is a minor, send the credit reporting companies a completed copy of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Uniform Minor’s Status Declaration Form with a letter requesting that they remove all accounts, account inquiries, and collection notices from the credit file associated with the child's name or personal information.

If the child is a victim of identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides steps you can take. You should also report it to the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov.

If you experience an issue with a credit reporting company, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB.

How can I spot identity theft?

Keep an eye out for identity theft by reading your statements from credit card companies or banks and credit unions and checking your credit reports for suspicious activity.

Tip

Be sure your personal information – like your Social Security number, address, name or initials, and employers – is correct. If you suspect identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov, the federal government’s one-stop resource to help you report and recover from identity theft.

Financial accounts and billing statements

Look closely for charges or withdrawals you did not make. Even a small charge or withdrawal can be a danger sign. Thieves sometimes will take a small amount from your checking account and then return to take much more if the small debit goes unnoticed.

Credit reports

Review your free credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus. If an identity thief is opening financial accounts in your name, these accounts may show up on your credit report. Look for:

  • Inquiries from companies you’ve never contacted
  • Accounts you didn’t open
  • Wrong amounts on your accounts

Warning: Don’t ignore calls from debt collectors about debts that aren’t yours, or bills from people you don’t know. A collection or bill on a debt you never borrowed may be an indication that someone else has opened an account in your name. Contact the creditor to find out.

If you have a problem with credit reporting or debt collection, you can submit a complaint.

Sources and publication details

The federal agency source text is U.S. government work in the public domain. Fynoptic selected, adapted, and formatted it for this guide. No agency endorsement is implied. Follow the linked sources for current program details and the rules applicable to your circumstances.

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