How to tell if your child’s identity has been stolen
We don’t want to scare you! But vigilance is key here.
If you receive strange mail, calls, or messages with your child’s name, you should investigate immediately. There’s a possibility they wound up on some spam lists, but these unsolicited communications are a huge red flag.
- Your child starts to receive bills in their name.
- Your child receives credit cards or pre-approved card offers in the mail.
- You start to receive calls from collection agencies asking for your child.
- Your child already has a credit file in their name. (You can check this by contacting the major credit reporting agencies — Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.)
- You get a notification from the IRS that your child’s name or SSN has been used on another tax return or that your child owes income taxes.
- Your child is denied government benefits.
- You receive age-inappropriate junk mail addressed to your child.
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Don’t shrug these off! Taking fast action now can be a huge lifesaver for your child and family down the line.
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