PITTSBURGH -- The following is a transcript of a report by Marcie Cipriani that first aired July 9, 2008, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

Watch The Report From WTAE Channel 4 Action News reporter Marcie Cipriani

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Many of us go to great lengths to protect our identity. Do you do the same for your children?

More companies are asking for personal information. If you refuse to provide it, you won't be able to shop there.

As adults, we can make that choice. What about your children? Are they putting themselves at risk for the latest video game?

Most of us are aware that we shouldn't be handing out our Social Security numbers, credit card PINs or driver's license numbers for fear that someone could learn far too much about us.

Many of us also know to shred our bills so our account numbers aren't stolen, and most of us consider ourselves pretty safe.

But federal investigators say it actually takes very little information to steal an identity, especially when it comes to your innocent, debt-free children.

We are asked for it nearly every day. Our names, addresses and birth dates have become common requests, and it's information we often don't think twice about giving up.

FBI Special Agent Bill Shore: "These are really the keys to your identity -- your name, your address."

With each added piece of information, Shore says, a new identity can be built.

And when those details are about your child, Shore says, you need to pay even more attention because your son or daughter is an easy target for criminals.

Shore: "When they can find someone that has a clean slate, particularly children, then it's a benefit to them, because they can carry on any kind of crime scheme over a long period of time."

Preventing that -- and protecting your kids -- starts at retail stores such as GameStop, a place geared toward young kids who trade video games.

We wanted to see how much private information they're asking children for, so we sent in 11-year-old Brendan Pratt and his family.

Pratt made the trade and felt fine about what he told the clerk.

Pratt: "They just asked me where I lived, my address, my birthday and my ZIP code. That's pretty much it."

The FBI says that's enough. Those small details, according to Shore, are all that's needed to commit fraud.

Shore: "You can obtain additional information or just create a fictitious ID using that name, address and date of birth."

GameStop's policy is not illegal, but the FBI warns that handing over any details about your children in person or online could be financially dangerous.

But at the same time, customers need to know stores may be trying to protect themselves as well.

Greg Eide, owner of Eide's Entertainment: "It's a matter of theft of stolen property and receiving of stolen goods, which is rampant in the gaming industry."

Eide says although he doesn't ask customers for personal information, he can see why many companies do. It's their way of making sure the trades brought in are legitimate.

Eide: "The only way to get to those people is to get that information, so the police can proceed with it."

But is your children's identity and innocence the sacrifice?

The FBI says you need to decide whether the product is worth the risk, then watch your children's credit so they're not surprised by a separate identity and a stack of bills later in life.

To do that, FBI agents recommend you do credit checks on your kids, just like you do on yourself. Everyone is entitled to a free credit report once every 12 months through each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies, such as Equifax and TransUnion.

Also, look out for signs that your children may have been a victim of fraud. For example, if your 11-year-old is getting credit applications in the mail, it may be a good indicator that you need to check their credit.

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