Identity theft is a common concern for many Americans, and unfortunately, there’s good reason for that. There are numerous factors that impact your risk, from where you live to your credit score.

Despite the frequency of identity theft among adults, children might actually be at an even greater risk. The unsettling part? You’ll probably have no idea it’s happening to your child.

Criminals target minors for similar reasons they target deceased individuals: it is less likely that someone is checking their credit report. They then use their personal information, typically for non-financial purposes, like applying for apartment rentals or getting medical treatment.

No matter how cute those Halloween trick-or-treaters are, you might be wondering what tricks some criminals may have up their sleeve during this holiday. After all, Halloween gets a bad rap for being a time when mischief and crime spikes.

Despite the (understandable) belief that criminals take advantage of this spooky holiday, many communities may be safer on Halloween, thanks to neighborhood watch programs that ramp up their efforts on All Hallows Eve. You might even notice an increase in police cruisers. All this is to ensure your little ones are safe as they dart from home to home, though generally speaking, Halloween doesn’t typically see an actual increase in crime in all areas.

This is exactly what happened to Kim Brooks, a mother who intentionally left her then-four-year-old son alone in the car to play his game while she ran into a store. Although she was only gone a few minutes, a passerby videotaped the “abandoned” child and reported Brooks to the police.

One of the top skills people wish they’d learned in school is basic money management, but personal finance lessons are usually left up to parents. You can give your kid a head-start in life if you teach them the importance of earning and saving, the rules of credit and interest, and how to manage it all when they’re living on their own.

Big Life Lessons For Little Ones

Your tiny tot is learning how to count, so you can start incorporating lessons about how to earn, save, and spend money. Reward your child for completing chores with cash, and let them store their money in a piggy bank.

Finding “the one” can be hard enough, but as a single parent, the search seems even more difficult. Whether you’ve been raising your child or children on your own since the beginning, you’ve been widowed, or you went through a nasty public divorce, jumping back into the dating scene might seem intimidating.

Getting Out There

It may seem like you’re surrounded by all things kid-related and you’ll never meet Ms. or Mr. Right, but you can increase your odds of finding love if you choose the right places. Bookstores, farmer’s markets and street fairs are all great places for you and your little ones – and for potentially making a connection.

Unfortunately, adoption scams are more common than you might think. Like many victims of fraud, people who fall for these scams are emotionally vulnerable. They’ve often struggled with infertility and are willing to believe anyone who gives them a glimmer of hope about having a child. They’ll do anything – including give up their life’s savings – if they think it will help them get a child sooner.