New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday alerted parents, guardians and young adults about a growing trend of child identity theft.

"Child identify theft is often a crime that is not realized until years later after damage has already been done to a stolen identity," Cuomo said.

"New Yorkers need to be aware of this growing trend. I encourage parents and guardians to be proactive in their efforts to protect their children's identities and personal information," he added.

In child identity theft, criminals will create a false identity through the use of a minor's personal information and social security number.

Then the false identity will often be used to obtain credit cards, open new utility accounts, or make large purchases such as a car or house. The child victim will be left with damaged credit that frequently remains undetected for years.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection is advising the public to keep their personal information safe and to take precautions to make sure theirs and their children's identities are not compromised.