Breathe
By Ana Cecilia Pérez
If you've never considered checking your child's credit history, you're not alone. Many parents are unaware that even minors can be victims of identity theft, a crime that can devastate their financial future before they even begin to build it.
Imagine Sofia, an eight-year-old girl whose mother discovers by chance, while trying to open a savings account for her education, that someone has been using Sofia's identity. From loans to credit cards, Sofia's history is riddled with unpaid debts and fraudulent credit, all under her name. This situation is now the reality for many Mexican families, where child identity theft is a little-discussed but incredibly damaging issue.
Although detailed statistics are not available in Mexico, cases of child identity theft are an alarming reality. These crimes can go undetected for years, causing irreparable damage to children's credit history and presenting significant obstacles in their adult lives.
What are the consequences of identity theft?
- Financial impact: Children with compromised credit histories face difficulties in obtaining student loans, auto loans or mortgages as adults.
- Legal and administrative challenges: Cleaning up a credit history can require years and considerable resources, involving disputes with credit bureaus and legal assistance.
- Emotional distress: The stress associated with fraud and identity restoration can profoundly affect the emotional well-being of families.
How can I prevent it?
- Education and awareness: It is everyone's responsibility to teach children the importance of protecting their personal information and understanding the risks of sharing data online.
- Regular verification: Parents should periodically request a credit report for their children, which is possible in Mexico through institutions such as Buró de Crédito.
- Control of information: Limit exposure of personal data in school records, medical records, and on social networks.
Checking your child's credit history may seem like an extreme measure, but in the digital age, it is a necessary precaution. Protecting the identity of minors is protecting their financial and emotional future. As parents, we must be vigilant and take the necessary steps to ensure that their path to adulthood does not begin with the burden of fraud and identity theft.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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