Wallingford, CT - August 26, 2010 - Hundreds of online businesses are finding
inactive Social Security numbers online –most of which are assigned to
children under 18 who have not started using them – and selling them
under different names to help people establish fake credit. The scheme
may lead to significant debts that might be almost impossible to pay
off.
This leaves parents asking what they can do to make sure
their son or daughter doesn’t become a victim of identity theft.
Unfortunately, not much. You can, however, be vigilant in preventing
your child’s Social Security number from being used indiscriminately. If
an organization requests the SSN, ask why and whether another
number can be used instead.
You can educate your child about identity theft and how to prevent
it. And you can watch out for red flags that indicate there might be a
problem, such as your son or daughter receiving pre-approved credit card
offers or calls from collection agencies.
Some parents have asked about checking and/or freezing their child’s credit report. The three Credit Reporting Agencies –
Experian,
Equifax and
Transunion
– do not recommend that you automatically check your child’s credit
report annually, unless you have an indication of a problem. To order
reports unnecessarily opens a door to thieves because it could establish
a credit report.
Unfortunately, you cannot ask a credit reporting agency
to create a file for your child for the sole purpose of placing a
preventative freeze. If your child does have a credit report and you can
prove fraud has taken place, only then should you freeze your son or
daughter’s credit report.
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