Identity thieves targeting children

CHILDREN as young as 10 are contemplating suicide and self-harming as a result of a new trend in cyber bullying.

Bullies are stealing other children’s identities to set up fake social media accounts and intimidate others under the guise of someone else.

In some circumstances children have called counselling services saying they are already self-harming over the identity theft and are contemplating suicide.

Despite social media services such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook having age restrictions, many younger kids are circumventing these rules and setting up accounts.

Password sharing among friends is also contributing to the shocking new trend and leading to personal details being obtained to establish fake accounts when friendships sour.

In one case a 13-year-old girl rang the Kids Helpline saying she felt “embarrassed, humiliated and very angry” that students at her school had opened a fake account in her name and were using it to say “stupid things” about other people. The girl was already self-harming over the incident and said she had even thought about suicide.

In another case, a 15-yearold boy rang the helpline concerned about a female friend who was “feeling very disturbed” about a fake profile set up in her name.

Kids Helpline national counselling manager Tony Fitzgerald said children as young as 10 were calling the service expressing stress over the new form of cyber bullying.

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING CYBER BULLYING OR JUST NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO, RING KIDS HELPLINE ON 1800 55 1800. IT’S FREE, EVEN FROM A MOBILE