Synthetic identity theft can attach a newborn’s Social Security number to a fake consumer before parents ever notice. Here’s how it happens — and how freezing your child’s credit stops it.
Imagine discovering that your newborn’s brand new Social Security number has already been used to construct what Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, calls a “Frankenstein monster of identity.”
Parents may discover their newborn’s tarnished Social Security number when they try to use it to file taxes, apply for government benefits or attempt to freeze the baby’s credit. Suddenly, an application or tax form is kicked back.
“And the parents go, ‘What are you talking about?’ They don’t even know what this means,” says Velasquez, whose nonprofit helps victims of identity theft. “And … through no fault of their own, they’re left holding the bag and they are the ones that are now responsible for cleaning up that mess.”
1 An Identity Theft Victim at Birth?
The rise in synthetic identity theft — where criminals piece together a fake consumer — is an unintended consequence of Social Security number “randomization,” which was initiated in 2011 to expand the pool of available numbers, she says.
Old Social Security numbers had clues to geography and birthdates in the digits. Randomizing the numbers made it harder for scammers to guess them — but also made it harder for creditors to spot the bogus use of a Social Security number on an application.
Before randomization, criminals typically purchased minors’ Social Security numbers on the black market or tracked down the numbers of dead children. But now, sometimes the number “is just completely made up,” Velasquez says. Fraud-detection measures used previously have become ineffective because it’s no longer possible to pair a Social Security number with a location or approximate age.
Criminals often start with a not-yet-issued Social Security number to create a fake identity. If it works, the number becomes attached to a credit file for a consumer who doesn’t exist.
2 How the Number Gets Into the Credit System
“You can create a credit file with almost nothing,” says Adam Levin, chairman and founder of CyberScout, a company offering identity theft education and resolution services. When a credit card application with a previously unused Social Security number arrives, a new credit file is started based on the information in that application.
The thief often starts small, say, with a card marketed to credit newbies, then builds on that to get more accounts with bigger credit limits. Then, they suddenly max out all the accounts — a “bust-out” scheme — and walk away, leaving the accounts to go to collections and never to be paid. The child’s credit reputation is left in tatters, but that’s often not discovered until the child is old enough to apply for credit, by seeking a college loan, for example.
Velasquez says the solution lies in creating a process where financial institutions and other credit grantors can verify an applicant’s name and number with the Social Security Administration for identity confirmation. That’s in the works, she says.
3 Why Freezing a Child’s Credit Is Essential
In the meantime, the best protection is to freeze kids credit. While it’s possible parents will discover that a child’s Social Security number has already been used to build a synthetic identity, chances are it hasn’t. (If it has, the sooner you clean up the mess, the better.)
Freezing a child’s credit can prevent their Social Security number from being used to open bogus credit accounts. Both Levin and Velasquez say they “absolutely” recommend freezing a newborn’s credit.
4 How to Freeze Your Child’s Credit
The mechanics are relatively simple. Parents will need to make and send copies of documents, including birth certificates, Social Security cards and government-issued identification, to each of the three credit reporting bureaus.
Go online to Equifax and Experian to print out request forms to complete and mail in with the required copies of documents. The mailing address is on each form. TransUnion doesn’t have an online form; instead, to request a freeze, write a letter and send document copies to TransUnion, P.O. Box 380, Woodlyn, PA 19094.
Each credit bureau will send confirmation of the freeze, as well as a personal identification number. The PINs will be needed to unfreeze the credit file, so it’s essential to keep that information and store it in a secure place.
“Even if it is a little difficult, this is what parents should be doing,” Levin says about freezing kids credit.
This article was written by NerdWalletand was originally published by The Associated Press.
Bev O’Shea is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: boshea@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @BeverlyOShea.
The article Has Your Newborn’s Identity Already Been Stolen? originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is synthetic identity theft?
Synthetic identity theft is where criminals piece together a fake consumer, often starting with a not-yet-issued Social Security number to create a fake identity. If it works, that number becomes attached to a credit file for a consumer who doesn’t exist. It is described as an unintended consequence of Social Security number randomization.
How might parents discover their newborn’s Social Security number was stolen?
Parents may discover their newborn’s tarnished Social Security number when they try to use it to file taxes, apply for government benefits or attempt to freeze the baby’s credit. Suddenly, an application or tax form is kicked back, and many parents don’t even understand what the rejection means at first.
Why did Social Security number randomization make fraud harder to detect?
Old Social Security numbers had clues to geography and birthdates in the digits. Randomization, initiated in 2011, made the numbers harder for scammers to guess but also made it harder for creditors to spot bogus use, because it is no longer possible to pair a number with a location or approximate age.
How can I protect my child from identity theft?
The best protection is to freeze your child’s credit, which prevents their Social Security number from being used to open bogus credit accounts. Both Adam Levin and Eva Velasquez say they absolutely recommend freezing a newborn’s credit, even though chances are a child’s number has not yet been misused.
How do I freeze my child’s credit with the three bureaus?
Make and send copies of documents, including birth certificates, Social Security cards and government-issued identification, to each bureau. Print request forms from Equifax and Experian and mail them in. TransUnion has no online form, so write a letter and mail copies to TransUnion, P.O. Box 380, Woodlyn, PA 19094. Keep the PINs you receive in a secure place.
