Prepaid Legal Review ? Child Identity Theft

Posted August 11th, 2012 by Editor with No Comments

In Connecticut a fourth grader named Hannah Duncan was a recent victim of child identity theft. It is no wonder Identity Theft is America?s fastest growing crime since the early 2000s with over 10 million people a year reporting a identity theft crime.

When a 8 year olds social security number can be stolen and used to buy a car in someone else?s name we need to rethink the way we are protecting ourselves. Hannah Duncan, can vaguely explain what her mother was trying to explain what happen to her, and still does not realize why she is so made. You cannot fault her though because she is only 8. ?I kept going, what?s that mean? What?s that mean? And then I kind of got it, but not that much,? Hannah said. An identity thieve used Hannah?s identity to get a $21,000 automobile on credit.

Luckily the Duncan?s had a identity theft protect plan in place that detected the identity thieves activity and notified Hannah?s family. ?It?s scary and it?s frustrating because you?ll never know who did it,? Brigitte Duncan said. Brigitte Duncan said that was a good thing that they had the identity monitoring for a minor in the Identity theft service that they purchased from a friend of theirs.

?Her credit would have been no good already because we wouldn?t have known about it,? Duncan said. ?It wouldn?t have gotten cleared up.? Research shows child identity theft costs families $13 billion a year and the victims are getting younger.? Children under the age of 5 have seen the biggest jump in identity theft related crimes, up 105% from last year. Children are being targeted 35 times more often than adults because kids are not using credit credits and checking their credit reports multiple times per year.

The Federal Trade Commission says a thief may steal and use a child?s information to get a job, government benefits, medical care, a car or even a mortgage. You have to ask ourselves if identity theft a problem for your child. You review your credit report a couple months out of the year so you can tell if there is something that is out of the ordinary, order a fraud alert or freeze on your credit file or take other action like hiring an attorney, but for what reason would you think to checked your child?s report? This is why child identity theft is on the rise; thief?s can use your child?s information for years before the crime is detected. So, what are the step you need to take as a parent to protect your family?

What Are Some Best Practices?

• You should never carry your Social Security card let allow your child?s personal information, such as their birth date, birth certificate, etc.
• Never share your child?s information unless you are satisfied that it is absolutely necessary. Taking the extra step to find out why someone needs this information, how long will they keep it the information in their possession, and whether or not they are safeguarding my information?
• Providing important personal information over the Internet unless the website begins with ?https? vs. ?http.? The https indicates third party verification. Also, look for a lock icon displayed in the address bar or footer ?indicates that a 3^rd party company has proved that they are who they say they are.
• Make sure your computer is secure by having the current antivirus and firewall protection. Do not use a ?wireless? connection. Yes, in the wireless world today, if you really want to be secure use landlines only.
• We are always logging into sites like Facebook, Google email, Yahoo, etc, but are you logging out. When you complete a transaction on E-bay; instead of just closing out, make sure you find and click the log out button. Also, close your browser window, and then open again.
• Never give out more information then you should. Public institutes like schools have some of the highest rates of identity theft. Give as little personal information to major institutions unless required. Read the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act that is sent home when information is requested to see if you really need to submit your information or not.

Staying Proactive

• Shred documents with any personal information.
• Everyone can fill up their trash bin on their computer, but make sure to empty your computer?s recycle bin.
• Before disposing of your cell phone or computer, remove all personal information, ask the manufacturer for help because a lot of phones and computers can store you personal information in backup places that you are not aware of.
• Don?t photocopy personal records at the office or store. Current technology copies every document that is copied and can be easily accesses by an employee.

Signs of Identity Theft

• Your child receives an offer for a credit card in the mail, to open a bank account, you receive a bill from a credit card company, and/or a collection agency.
• Confirmation request of employment from the Social Security Administration or IRS if your child did not hold a job.
• You receive a rejection of your tax return by the IRS this indicates that your dependent child was already claimed by someone else.
• Your child receives a notice from the IRS of taxes due, even though your child has no income.
• As long as you are checking your credit report for free, do the same for your child. Each of the three credit reporting bureaus ? Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion ? must provide you with your credit information for free, once a year.

In the Event of Child Identity Theft

• Contact each of the three credit reporting agencies, and complete the Uniform Minor?s Status Declaration to send to them. Attach a letter asking them to remove any accounts, inquiries, and collection notices associated with your child.
• Discuss with the credit agencies about placing a ?credit freeze? or ?fraud alert? on the account.
• Call the IRS Specialized Identity Theft Protection Union at (800) 908-4490.
• Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov or (877) 438-4338.
• Call the companies that where on your child?s credit report to let them know of the fraud.
• Call the Social Security Administration to discuss if a new Social Security Number is required.

Now that we have suggested a few ways to be proactive in protecting you and your family from Identity Theft; Legal insurance and Identity theft protection are the last things you can do to safeguard yourself from America?s fastest growing crime. Visit Prepaid Legal Review to find out more information about legal insurance plans that can protect you against identity thieves

Posted in Identity Theft
Tags identity theft legal plans Legal Shield Prepaid Legal
Written by Editor

Source: http://prepaidlegalreview.com/identity-theft/child-identity-theft/

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