Friday, September 8, 2017 5 Brooklin Town Crier kids hit their tweens, they are 40% more likely to have their ID stolen due to their online presence especially if they have a cellphone," says Keehn. Why Kids are Vulnerable: Since children have clean credit histories, criminals use these IDs to apply for credit cards, lines of credit, and even mortgages! A child's identity is often stolen through the apps they register for to download and also through online registrations, accounts and profiles. "The Internet has made life so easy for criminals," says Williams. Identity thieves create fraudulent websites that mimic social networking ones in order to gain their personal information. What Criminals Do: About 22% of child identity theft cases in Canada reported misuse of the child's SIN. Thieves create a 'synthetic identity' using the child's SIN and a different name, date of birth, and address, to obtain new bank or credit accounts for financial gain, or services such as utilities, phone, cellular, and Internet. Children's information is also used to commit non-financial identity theft, including obtaining fraudulent tax returns or government benefits, housing rental, employment, medical treatment, or evading criminal charges. This type of child identity theft is usually committed by a family member or someone you know. How parents find out: On average, victims of child identity theft in the U.S. have roughly $12,000 worth of fraudulent debt. Parents often don't find out until the child goes to university and/or applies for a student credit card to buy books in the university book store. By that time, their credit is damaged and they are denied credit. Then it is a lengthy process to have it restored, which typically take about two years. What You Can Do: According to Keehn, "You have to be diligent about protecting your child's social insurance number. I can't believe how many organizations ask for a copy of your child's birth certificate. Ask the organization why they need this. Keep any documents that contain your child's social insurance number, their birth certificate and their passport under lock and key." It goes without saying that children's internet use should be monitored. Children should be warned not to give out their personal details over the net. Check children's social network and other online profiles for any personal information that might be displayed. Social networking sites can require that minors enter in their personal information in order to sign up so you have to watch what information the site requires. Williams adds that it is also a good idea to request a credit bureau on your child. This can be done by contacting Equifax and TransUnion about once a year and requesting a credit report from each of them. If one comes up, you need to investigate. Only one in 10 Canadian adults actually do this. What To Watch For: Several signs can tip you off to the fact that someone is misusing your child's personal information. For example, you or your child might: be turned down for government benefits because the benefits are being paid to another account using your child's SIN. get a notice from the Revenue Canada saying the child didn't pay income taxes, or that the child's Social Insurance Number was used on another tax return get collection calls or bills for products or services they didn't receive get credit card offers or offers for products not suited to children addressed in their name receive statements of earnings or insurance claims that don't apply to them "The best defence is awareness, knowledge and the will to fight back," stresses Keehn. continued from previ- Transportation Master Plan Draft Available The Regional Municipality of Durham is currently in the process of updating the Durham Transportation Master Plan. A draft of the new Master Plan is available for public review online at durham.ca/tmp until September 30. Feedback may be submitted via the contact information available on the website. Durham Region's Transportation Master Plan is a strategic planning document designed to define the policies, programs and infrastructure improvements required to plan for Durham's future transportation needs. There has been much change and growth in Durham Region since the original Durham Transportation Master Plan (TMP) was approved by Regional Council in 2003, more than 14 years ago. Studies and plans related to transit, cycling, trails and other issues have been implemented, but the current TMP outlines plans for growth only until 2021. For these reasons, the Region is updating the TMP. The update plans for transportation needs to 2031 and beyond, in conjunction with the Regional Official Plan. The update addresses all modes of transportation (including walking, cycling, transit, automobiles and goods movement), while enhancing safety, promoting sustainability and minimizing environmental impacts.