Whom Should You Contact First if You Suspect You Are a Target of Identity Theft—Answered
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Millions of Americans are affected by identity theft annually, and many cases aren’t reported. You shouldn’t make this mistake, as ID theft can have long-term consequences if not resolved swiftly. This is especially true for child identity theft, which may go unnoticed for a while.
Whether you or your child have fallen victim to this terrifying crime, you may be wondering, “Whom should you contact first if you suspect you are a target of identity theft?”
There are several institutions you can turn to for help, and the following suggests the order in which you should contact them. You’ll also learn how to protect yourself and your child from identity theft and why professional ID monitoring might be a wise investment.
How To Know if Your Identity Has Been Compromised
Before reaching out to the relevant authorities, you should check for signs of identity theft. The most concerning red flags include the following:
- Loan denial despite good credit
- A sudden drop in your credit score or strange information on your credit profile
- Correspondence from debt collectors as a result of unfamiliar loans
- Surprise credit card charges
- Mysterious bills in your name
All of this could mean that someone has used your personal information to obtain fraudulent loans or sign up for services in your name.
If a child is the victim, there may be additional warning signs. Most notably:
- The existence of a credit profile despite the lack of a credit history
- Pre-approved credit card offers in the child’s name
- Denial of government benefits
By the time you notice any signs of ID theft, the perpetrator might have already committed numerous crimes. That’s why it’s important to report the theft immediately and dispute all fraudulent activity.
Where and How To Report Identity Theft
After confirming you’ve fallen victim to identity fraud, you should reach out to the following authorities:
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Local law enforcement
- Credit bureaus
- All of the affected lenders
- The Social Security Administration (SSA)
File a Report With the FTC
The FTC has an online portal dedicated to identity theft, and visiting it should be your first step toward damage control and remediation of this crime. You can file a report online by providing details of the theft and verifying your identity.
The portal will show you a questionnaire inquiring about all the specifics, so select the most suitable options and try to provide as much information as possible.
Source: IdentityTheft.gov
Once you’ve filled out the report, the FTC will give you a custom recovery plan. You can also create an account to receive help along the way, which is highly recommended since dealing with ID theft on your own could become overwhelming.
Contact Local Law Enforcement
After you’ve filed a report with the FTC, you’ll want to do the same with the police. You might need a police report to prove the crime to other parties, such as the banks from which the identity criminal stole money in your name.
Call your local law enforcement after gathering as much evidence of the crime as possible. Depending on the specific circumstances, this may include strange bank statements, notices from the IRS, or anything else out of the ordinary.
The officer will ask you for all the details that might help the investigation, so it will help to have the previously researched information readily available.
Dispute Fraudulent Activity With Credit Bureaus
If the crime against you resulted in fraudulent loans, contacting credit bureaus is crucial to clearing up your name. Doing so is even more important if your child is the victim, as crimes committed against minors are far more complex than those affecting adults. The following comparison explains how they differ:
| Victims | Prevalent Type of ID Theft | How It Works |
| Children | Synthetic identity fraud | The perpetrator uses the child’s Social Security number (SSN) or other identifiers and combines them with fake information to create a new identity |
| Adults | True-name identity fraud | The fraudster impersonates the victim using their real identifiers |
Synthetic identities are often used to defraud lenders because minors’ identities aren’t tracked as much as adults’, so fraud is harder to detect and resolve. Such crimes can result in your child struggling to build credit and obtain legitimate loans due to fraudulent activity connected to their name.
Whether the theft impacted you or your child, contact the three major consumer credit bureaus:
Each bureau has a specific process for reporting ID theft, so let them guide you through the necessary steps. Ideally, all fraudulent activity should be removed from the credit profile by the time you’re done.
Reach Out to the Affected Lenders
An identity criminal might leave you buried in debt after stealing your identity, but you might be able to get some loans discharged. This isn’t always the case, but it’s still worth reporting the crime to the financial institutions targeted by the scammer.
Your credit report will show all loans obtained in your name, so this is where you can find the lenders you should contact. Gather all the reports and proof of the crime, and the institution’s fraud department will outline your options.
Check if the SSA Can Help
Most identity fraud cases involve a stolen SSN, as this identifier is used to track various information and accounts. If your SSN was compromised, you should report the theft to the SSA, specifically the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
They’ll investigate the matter and help you explore recovery options. In rare cases, the SSA might let you change your SSN to help you avoid further damage. Note that this is only possible if you’re suffering recurring harm as a result of the theft and you can prove that you’ve exhausted all other resolution options.
How To Prevent Identity Theft
Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to ID theft, so you should take the necessary steps to safeguard your information:
- Keep your SSN safe—Don’t carry your Social Security card with you, except in rare situations when you know you’ll need it. When filling out forms, always ask if you can only provide the last four digits or use another identifier
- Fortify your online security—Protect all accounts containing sensitive information with strong passwords, and beware of social engineering attacks like phishing or catfishing
- Stay on the lookout for red flags—Review your bank statements and bills as soon as you receive them to spot any potential issues. Make sure to also monitor your credit profile to be proactive about errors or suspicious activity
Considering that children’s identities are often more appealing to identity criminals than adults’, they require additional protection. If you’re concerned about your child falling victim to fraud, you should consider a professional identity monitoring service.
Instead of having to resort to DIY options for safeguarding your child’s information, you can rest assured knowing that their identity can be safely monitored. If you’re worried about protecting your children’s identities, check out FreeKick from Austin Capital Bank. FreeKick provides premium identity protection for your family and credit building for your children.
Use FreeKick To Safeguard Your Family’s Identities
Identity theft is so widespread that a child’s identity is stolen every 30 seconds, making identity protection services invaluable. That’s where FreeKick by Austin Capital Bank comes in—this two-in-one platform protects your child’s identity and builds credit for them.
How FreeKick’s Protects Your Family’s Identities
FreeKick offers identity protection services for minors, adult children, and parents, making it a comprehensive identity protection package for your whole family. For minors, FreeKick offers the following services:
- Credit profile monitoring
- Social Security number (SSN) monitoring
- Dark web monitoring for children’s personal information
- Up to $1 million identity theft insurance
- Full-service white-glove concierge credit restoration
- Sex offender monitoring—based on sponsor parent’s address
For adult children and parents, FreeKick offers:
- Credit profile monitoring
- SSN monitoring
- Dark web monitoring for personal information
- Up to $1 million identity theft insurance
- Full-service white-glove concierge credit restoration
- Lost wallet protection
- Court records monitoring
- Change of address monitoring
- Non-credit (Payday) loan monitoring
- Free FICO® Score monthly
- FICO® Score factors
- Experian credit report monthly
How FreeKick Builds Credit
FreeKick builds credit for children aged 13 to 25 in three simple steps:
- Create an Account—Sign up on FreeKick.bank and choose a deposit that suits your budget
- Set It and Forget It—FreeKick will start building 12 months’ worth of credit history for your child
- Keep Growing—After 12 months, close the account without any fees (or continue building credit for your child for another year)
These steps give your child the opportunity to have five years’ worth of credit history when they turn 18. This will help them save $200,000 during their lifetimes by giving them access to better loan terms and other financial benefits.
FreeKick Pricing
FreeKick offers two pricing plans:
| FDIC-Insured Deposit | Annual Fee |
| $3,000 | $0 (Free) |
| No deposit | $149 |
Both plans offer:
- Credit building for six children aged 13 to 25
- Identity protection for two parents and six children aged 0 to 25
Secure your family’s identity and financial future—sign up for FreeKick today.
