Pro Tips

On June 25, 2011 the Social Security Administration began issuing random social security numbers to newborn children. Prior to that, a social security number was issued by birthplace geographic location and indicated the general age of the individual.  

The Social Security Administration was running out of available numbers in densely populated areas (ex. New York City) and had plenty of available numbers in sparsely populated geographies (ex. Nebraska), so it decided to begin issuing random social security numbers. Every child under age 13 has a random social security number. With a random social security number, a bank or lender can’t determine the age of the person associated with the number, this allows a fraudster to use a child’s social security number to create a fake adult identity (synthetic identity).  

Step 1: Open a FreeKick account and activate identity monitoring for your child. 

Your child should not have a credit bureau profile associated with their social security number unless you previously added them as an authorized user to a credit card, so an ideal report has ‘no findings’ for most minor children. FreeKick’s identity protection services also monitor the dark web for your child’s personal information and monitor for use of their social security number outside of credit reporting. If you see something on the identity monitoring report you don’t recognize, or believe your child is already the victim of identity theft, contact us and we’ll help you determine the next steps based on the situation.  

Step 2: Freeze your child’s credit profile (social security number) at the three major credit bureaus. 

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to freeze your child’s credit profile online and you must freeze your child’s profile separately at each of the three major credit bureaus by mailing in documents and information.  

You must request a security freeze individually with each of the three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax). You may freeze your child’s credit up until they turn 16. At that point, your child may access their own credit reports, and they have the right to request to freeze or unfreeze them on their own.  

Here are the documents and information you’ll need to freeze your child’s credit:  

• Your driver’s license or other government-issued ID  
• Your Social Security number or Social Security card  
• Your date of birth or birth certificate  
• Your child’s Social Security card  
• Your child’s birth certificate  
• Evidence of your current address, such as a mailed bank statement or utility bill
• A list of the addresses where you’ve lived over the past two years  

To request a child security freeze for your child with Experian, you need to mail a completed Experian minor freeze request form plus copies of the documents required by Experian. If you have multiple children, you can submit a request for each child simultaneously, but you’ll need to send one set of documents per child. After Experian receives your documentation, it will typically freeze a minor’s credit file within three business days. 

On Experian’s Child Identity Theft Protection page, click “Add or remove a security freeze for a minor“. Complete the form and print it out. Send the completed form along with copies of the required documents to: 

USPS Mail send to:  

Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013 

Overnight mail / Express Delivery Service send to: 

Experian
701 Experian Parkway
Allen, TX 75013 

To request a freeze for a minor child with TransUnion, you must mail a letter to TransUnion.  

Your letter must include: 

1. A written request to place a “protected consumer freeze” on the legal name of your child’s credit file
2. A copy of one piece of documentation that provides ‘sufficient proof of authority’ that you have authority to act on behalf of the minor or dependent such as:
   
   1. A document issued by a Federal, State, or local government agency in the United States showing proof of parentage, example: a birth certificate 
   2. An order issued by a court of law 
   3. A lawfully executed and valid power of attorney 
   4. With respect to a protected consumer who has been placed in a foster care setting, a written communication from a county welfare department or its agent or designee, or a county probation department or its agent or designee, certifying that the protected consumer is in a foster care setting under its jurisdiction.
3. Information or copies of documentation confirming your identity AND the identity of the minor/dependent. Information or documentation needs to provide ‘sufficient proof of identification’ that you and the minor/dependent are who you really are, such as a: 
   1. Social Security number or a copy of a Social Security card 
   2. Certified or official copy of a birth certificate issued by the entity authorized to issue the birth certificate 
   3. Copy of a driver’s license, an identification card issued by the motor vehicle administration, or any other government issued identification 

Send the written request along with copies of the documents required to: 

TransUnion
P.O. Box 380
Woodlyn, PA 19094 

TransUnion accepts both standard and certified USPS mail. 

To request a freeze for a minor child with Equifax, you must mail a letter to Equifax.

You must first complete an Equifax Minor Security Freeze Request Form.

You’ll need to mail the completed Minor Security Request Form along with documentation that verifies your identity; the minor dependent’s identity; and your relationship to the minor dependent to TransUnion.

To prove your identity, you will need to provide copies of one (1) of the following pieces of identification:

1. A copy of your driver’s license or other government-issued identification
2. A copy of your Social Security card
3. A copy of your birth certificate
   

To prove you are the child’s parent or authorized representative, you will need to provide copies of one (1) of the following pieces of documentation:

1. A copy of the child’s birth certificate
2. A copy of a court order
3. A copy of a lawfully executed and valid power of attorney
4. A copy of a foster care certification

To validate the child’s identity, you will need to provide copies of both of the following:

1. A copy of the child’s Social Security card
2. A copy of the child’s birth certificate

Mail the completed Minor Security Request Form and all required documentation to:

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788

Financial criminals target your children because they can use their identity and information for years without being detected.  

Criminals specifically target children 13 and younger because:  

• All children under age 13 have a random social security number 
• Children are not using their credit profile 
• Children have never used credit, so their credit profile is a blank slate
• Their identities are not monitored
    

Heartbreaking facts from one study of 40,000 children:  

• The youngest victim was just 5 months old 
• A 16-year-old girl had $765,000 of loans associated with her identity  

Criminals can use your child’s identity information to obtain:  

• Personal loans
• Credit cards 
• Home loans 
• Student financial aid 
• Vehicle financing 
• Store credit for luxury purchases 
• Tax refunds 
• Driver’s license 
• Government benefits 
• Employment    

It is important to note that Synthetic Identity Fraud may negatively impact your child’s ability to obtain financial aid for college.  

FAFSA and Student Loan Identity Theft (link to URL) 

https://www.idtheftcenter.org/post/fafsa-and-student-loan-identity-theft/