CLEVELAND -- Identity theft is an ever-increasing threat for all us, one that could damage credit ratings and cost thousands of dollars.

And as NewsChannel5's Tonya Strong reported, teens are more vulnerable than others.

"Think of the loss of innocence," said Jay Seaton, president of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeast Ohio. "And you're a person and your identity is stolen. I think one of the reasons for it is they're almost that age when they can be solicited for credit.”

A badly damaged credit report can take many months or even years to repair, reported Strong.

Here are few ways teens can protect themselves from identity theft.

• Leave your Social Security card in a safe place at home.
• Don't take your credit cards or checkbook to parties.
• Avoid credit purchases online; if you must, only shop secure sites.

As it turns out, often it's a family member who targets a young person, so it's best to be extremely careful with your personal records.

If you have any concerns, you can reach the consumer credit counseling services at (800) 355-2227.