Can a child have a credit file?

Children should not normally have a credit file. If a credit reference agency holds a file in your child's name, it may indicate that someone has used their identity to apply for credit. You can check by contacting Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion directly.

How do I prevent this from happening again?

Register with CIFAS Protective Registration, teach your child about protecting personal information online, enable privacy settings on all social media accounts, and regularly check for any unexpected correspondence in your child's name. Consider placing a credit freeze if available.

สำคัญ

My Child's Identity Has Been Stolen or Used Fraudulently

You have received unexpected letters, bills, or account notifications in your child's name, or discovered that someone has used your child's personal details to open accounts, apply for credit, or commit fraud.

Discovering that your child's identity has been stolen is deeply unsettling, but acting quickly can limit the damage. Children are increasingly targeted because their clean credit histories make them attractive to fraudsters, and the theft often goes undetected for years. The steps below will help you contain the situation, protect your child's identity going forward, and report the crime.

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Confirm the Identity Theft

Gather all evidence — unexpected letters, bills, emails, or account notifications in your child's name. Check whether any accounts or credit agreements have been opened using their details by requesting a basic credit report from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion.

✗ Do not: Do not ignore unexpected correspondence addressed to your child, even if it seems like junk mail.

Report to Action Fraud

Report the identity theft to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via their online reporting tool at actionfraud.police.uk. They will provide you with a crime reference number which you will need for subsequent steps.

Contact the Organisations Involved

Write to or call any companies where fraudulent accounts have been opened in your child's name. Explain the situation, provide the Action Fraud crime reference number, and request that the accounts be closed and any adverse credit entries removed.

Place a Protective Registration

Register your child with CIFAS Protective Registration to add a warning flag to their identity. This means any organisation checking their details will carry out extra verification before opening an account.

Review and Secure Personal Data

Check where your child's personal information may have been compromised — data breaches, social media oversharing, or phishing attempts. Update passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and ensure their personal details are not publicly visible online.

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✗Do not delay reporting — the longer identity theft goes unreported, the more damage can be done.
✗Do not blame your child if their information was shared innocently or through a data breach.
✗Do not pay any debts or bills that were fraudulently created in your child's name.
✗Do not dispose of any evidence — keep all correspondence and records.

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เหตุใดจึงสำคัญ

หากคุณต้องการรายงานต่อเจ้าหน้าที่หรือแพลตฟอร์ม หลักฐานสามารถช่วยได้

•Keep all letters, bills, emails, and notifications that arrived in your child's name.
•Save your Action Fraud crime reference number and any correspondence with companies where fraudulent accounts were opened.

วิธีพูดคุยกับลูกของคุณ

✓Explain what has happened in age-appropriate terms. Older children should understand how personal information can be misused so they can protect themselves in future.
✓Reassure your child that this is not their fault and that you are sorting it out.
✓Use the experience as an opportunity to discuss online privacy, strong passwords, and being careful about sharing personal details.