The Costco Connection

DAVID&AMANDA
HOROWITZ

David Horowitz is a leading consumer advocate. David’s daughter Amanda Horowitz is the CEO of Fight Back! and co-founder of FightBack.com.

Questions and answers of the greatest interest to Costco members will be used in this column (with the permission of the contributor) and will be posted on FightBack.com.

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Please note we are not licensed professionals in any field. If you are seeking advice you should consult with your own licensed professional.

We do not assume any liability or responsibility for the interpretation, application or accuracy of any information provided.

CONSUMERCONNECTION

ADULTS ARE NOT the only targets of identity the;;

children can be victims of identity thieves too. ;is
is because the crime may go undetected for years,
until victims try to use their own information to
build credit and discover someone else has used it
fraudulently. ;e perpetrator using a child’s Social
Security number, date of birth, name, address or all
• Keep documents and vital records in a safe
place where you know with certainty that the infor-
mation will not be compromised. Don’t keep them
anywhere they can be lost or stolen.

• Cross-cut shred all documents before throwing them away. You should do this for all personal information, as a general rule.

• Find out who has access to your child’s personal information at school. Verify how records are kept and what the school does to protect information. You also need to understand the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which protects the privacy of student education records.

Under FERPA, parents have the right to inspect and review their child’s education records and to approve of disclosure of personal information. Go to ed.gov

and search “FERPA” for more information.

• When ;lling out paperwork, ask if a Social Security number is absolutely necessary. If it’s possible to use a di;erent identi;er or the last four digits of your child’s Social Security number only, do so.

If identity theft occurs

If you are sure your minor child has been the victim of financial identity theft, in general, the first step is to file a police report and provide any evidence you have to the authorities. Using a copy of this report, you then submit a written request for a credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. This request should be in writing and in compliance with the requirements of each agency.

You can find more information on fraud reporting and requirements on the agency websites listed below. Keep copies of all written correspondence with the agencies, and write down notes that will help you track the process. When sending correspondence, send it certified mail so you have a record of it being sent and received.

Contact any credit issuer or collection agency listed on the minor’s credit report in writing and explain that this is a case of identity theft. Ask each bureau to remove all accounts, inquiries and collection notices from any file associated with your child’s name and Social Security number. You should also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, at ftccomplaint assistant.gov. C

Additional resources

Here is a list of contact information to aid you in the fraud resolution process.

• TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department, transunion.com

• Equifax Consumer Fraud Division, equifax.com

• Experian National Consumer Assistance Center, experian.com

of the above for personal gain could be a stranger or, even worse, a relative. ;e information may be frau-dently used to open ;nancial accounts; apply for utility, cable or internet services; rent housing; get a job; receive welfare or unemployment—the list of possibilities goes on. Although laws safeguard personal information, your child could still be at risk.

Be aware of signs that point to information being misused, such as calls from collection agencies, bills for products that weren’t purchased, ;nancial o;ers usually sent to adults and rejected federal or state tax forms. A young adult may be denied credit or loans, receive credit card bills for a card that was never requested or, in extreme cases, be arrested for a crime he or she didn’t commit.

Taking steps

Here are some steps you can take to prevent child identity the;.

• Talk about identity the; with your family.

Teach your children not to post personal information on social media. Teach a young child not to give out personal information to anyone without your permission. Teach young adults about phone and internet scams.