For the second year in a row, Florida lawmakers have filed a bill aimed at stopping scammers from stealing children’s identities. Law enforcement officers support the measure, Senate Bill 242, which would allow parents to freeze their kids’ credit records.
The bill’s being called the KIDS Act—that stands for Keeping ID Safe. It would allow parents to create a credit record for minors and freeze it without penalty.
The Senate sponsor, Nancy Detert (R-Venice), says many parents aren’t aware of the risk.
“We have case after case that we’ve seen of even teachers stealing kids’ credit," she says. "Their Social Security numbers are out there and often used for school events and other events.”
The act would also apply to vulnerable adults who have a legal guardian.
The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates children’s identity theft is responsible for more than $100 million per year in fraud.