Parents need to be aware that their child is vulnerable to identity theft as soon as a Social Insurance Number (SIN) is assigned. Identity thieves covet the personal information of children because they have no credit records. By stealing a child’s SIN, a scammer can create a completely new identity and successfully apply for loans and credit cards. Parents are advised to always keep their child’s SIN under lock and key and never store it on a computer. Children should be taught not to reveal potentially sensitive personal information, such as their home address and birthdate, on social media. Child identity theft is particularly dangerous because it can take 10 to 15 years to discover the crime. By the time it is discovered the scammer’s trail is cold and the damage to the victim’s credit record can be devastating.