Identity Theft / Social security card

[Nzinga_Seated]

If I had reason to believe that my or my child’s Social Security card number has fallen in the hands of someone who is a known identity theif, what can I do to check that my child’s SS number is secure? Anything?

ETA: I reported this for a forum move. My mistake.

[Czarcasm]

Moved thread from IMHO to General Questions.

[griffin1977]

Check the main three credit agencies as described on the FTC site:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html

You may want to consider getting a security freeze (as opposed to a security alert) which will stop ANYONE opening any credit in her name.

[Teufelblitz]

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/625

Doesn’t appear there is much you can do to prevent, but you may be able to react.

This may be a good place to start.

ETA:

We do not routinely assign a new number to someone whose identity has been stolen. First, you should do several other things, such as:

File a report with the local police or the police department where the identity theft took place, and keep a copy of the police report as proof of the crime;
Notify the Federal Trade Commission (1-877-ID-THEFT or 1-877-438-4338);
File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov ;
Contact the fraud units of the three major credit reporting bureaus:
Equifax (800-525-6285);
Trans Union: (800-680-7289); and
Experian: (888-397-3742).
Call each of your creditors to report fraud for any account that has been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

That seems most relevant.

[Nzinga_Seated]

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.