If someone is using your personal or financial information to make purchases, get benefits, file taxes, or commit fraud, that's identity theft. This booklet can guide you through the recovery process.
You might have to contact these companies again after you have an Identity Theft Report.
To place a fraud alert, contact one of the three credit bureaus. That company must tell the other two.
A fraud alert is free. It will make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name.
You'll get a letter from each credit bureau. It will confirm that they placed a fraud alert on your file.
Get your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Go to annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
Did you already order your free annual reports this year? If so, you can pay to get your report immediately. Or follow the instructions in the fraud alert confirmation letter from each credit bureau to get a free report. That might take longer.
Review your reports. Make note of any account or transaction you don't recognize. This will help you report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the police.
Go to IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. Include as many details as possible.
Based on the information you enter, IdentityTheft.gov will create your Identity Theft Report and recovery plan.
Your Identity Theft Report is important because it guarantees you certain rights. You can learn more about your rights on page 25.
Go to your local police office with:
Tell the police someone stole your identity and you need to file a report.
Ask for a copy of the police report. You may need this to complete other steps.
Take a deep breath and begin to repair the damage.
Now that you have an Identity Theft Report, call the fraud department of each business where an account was opened.
The business may require you to send them a copy of your Identity Theft Report or complete a special dispute form. The sample letter on page 18 can help.
Write down who you contacted and when.
Call the fraud department of each business.
The business may require you to send them a copy of your Identity Theft Report or complete a special dispute form. The sample letter on page 19 can help.
Write down who you contacted and when.
Write to each of the three credit bureaus. The sample letter on page 20 can help.
If someone steals your identity, you have the right to remove fraudulent information from your credit report. This is called blocking. Once the information is blocked, it won't show up on your credit report, and companies can't try to collect the debt from you. If you have an Identity Theft Report, credit bureaus must honor your request to block fraudulent information. Use the sample letter on page 20 to block information.
If you don't have an Identity Theft Report, you still can dispute incorrect information in your credit file. It can take longer, and there's no guarantee that the credit bureaus will remove the information. To dispute information without an Identity Theft Report, contact each credit bureau online or by phone.
Extended fraud alerts and credit freezes can help prevent further misuse of your personal information. There are important differences. This chart can help you decide which might be right for you.
| An Extended Fraud Alert | A Credit Freeze |
| Lets you have access to your credit report as long as companies take steps to verify your identity | Stops all access to your credit report unless you lift or remove the freeze |
| Free to place and remove if someone stole your identity. Guaranteed by federal law | Cost and availability depend on your state law. There might be a small fee for placing, lifting, and removing |
| Lasts for seven years | Lasts until you lift or remove |
| Set it by contacting each of the three credit bureaus.
| Set it by contacting each of the three credit bureaus.
|
Depending on your situation, you might need to take additional steps.
Do you think someone else is using your Social Security number for work? Review your Social Security work history by creating an account at ssa.gov/myaccount. If you find errors, contact your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office.
Write to the debt collector within 30 days of getting the collection letter. The sample letter on page 21 can help.
Contact the business where the fraudulent account was opened.
For example, if someone opened a credit card in your name, ask for a copy of the application and the applicant's signature.
If you haven't already, ask the credit bureaus to block information about this debt from your credit report.
The advice in What To Do Next on page 3 can help you block fraudulent information from your credit reports.
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send or receive.
Social Security card lost or stolen? Apply online at ssa.gov/ssnumber to get a free replacement card.
Driver's license lost or stolen? You can find your nearest motor vehicles office at usa.gov/Motor-Vehicle-Services.
The state might flag your license number in case someone else tries to use it, or they might suggest that you apply for a replacement license.
Passport lost or stolen? Call the State Department at 1-877-487-2778 or TTY 1-888-874-7793. If you want to replace the passport, you have several options:
If someone is arrested and uses your name or personal information, contact the law enforcement agency that arrested the thief. You may need to check court records to find out where the thief was arrested.
If a court prosecutes an identity thief using your name, contact the court where the arrest or conviction happened.
Contact your state Attorney General. You can find contact information at usa.gov/state-consumer.
Consider hiring a criminal defense lawyer. Your state or local bar association can help you find a lawyer.
Ask the law enforcement agency that arrested the thief which information brokers buy their records.
Information brokers buy criminal records and sell information to employers and debt collectors.
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send or receive.
For certain types of accounts, you might have to contact additional offices.
If someone used your information to get cable, electric, water, or other similar services, contact the service provider.
For additional help, contact your state Public Utility Commission and explain the situation. You can find contact information at naruc.org/about-naruc/regulatory-commissions.
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send or receive.
Contact the National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange and request your NCTUE® Data Report. Review it for any accounts you don't recognize.
What is the NCTUE Data Report? The NCTUE Data Report is a record of all telecommunication, pay TV, and utility accounts reported by exchange members, including information about your account history, unpaid accounts, and customer service applications.
If the service provider doesn't resolve the problem, file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or 1-888-225-5322 or TTY 1-888-835-5322.
Contact the agency that issued the government benefit and explain that someone stole your identity. You can find local government agencies at usa.gov/local-governments.
For Social Security benefits, contact the SSA Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or 1-800-269-0271.
Ask what you need to do to fix the problem.
If you stopped receiving your benefits because of the identity theft, ask what you need to do to get them reinstated. You may need to appear in person or send something in writing.
Make a note of who you contacted and when.
Do you think someone opened a checking account in your name? Order a free copy of your ChexSystems report, which compiles information about your checking accounts.
If someone is writing bad checks against your account, contact your financial institution.
You also can contact check verification companies. Report that your checks were stolen. Ask them to tell businesses to refuse the stolen checks.
If a business rejects your check, ask the business for an explanation. The business must tell you what information led them to reject your check.
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send or receive.
Contact the school or program that opened the loan.
If this is a federal student loan, contact the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-800-MISUSED (1-800-647-8733).
If these steps don't resolve your situation, contact the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Ombudsman at 1-877-557-2575.
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send or receive.
Ask the landlord who rented the property to the identity thief what tenant history services they use. Contact those companies. Ask for a copy of your tenant history report, and ask what steps you need to take to correct fraudulent information in the report.
What's a tenant history report? There are several companies that collect and sell information about renters – such as how often a renter was late or if a renter has ever been evicted. If someone leased an apartment in your name, you'll want to correct any errors in your tenant history reports.
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send or receive.
Call your broker or account manager, and describe the situation.
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send or receive.
Visit usdoj.gov/ust to find the U.S. Trustee in the region where the bankruptcy was filed. Write to the office and describe the situation. Provide proof of your identity.
The U.S. Trustee Program refers cases of suspected bankruptcy fraud to the U.S. Attorneys for possible prosecution. The U.S. Trustee can't give you legal help, so you may need to hire an attorney.
Consider hiring an attorney. Your state or local bar association can help you find a lawyer.
An attorney can explain to the court that the bankruptcy filing was fraudulent.
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send or receive.
If you get an IRS notice in the mail that says someone used your Social Security number to get a tax refund, follow the instructions provided in the letter.
Complete IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. Mail or fax the form according to the instructions. Include proof of your identity, like a copy of your Social Security card, driver's license, or passport.
Did the notice say you were paid by an employer you don't know? Send a letter to the employer explaining that someone stole your identity, and that you don't work for the employer.
File your tax return, and pay any taxes you owe.
You might have to mail paper tax returns.
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send or receive.
If these steps don't resolve your situation, contact the IRS for specialized assistance at 1-800-908-4490.
Place a fraud alert. Contact one of the three credit bureaus. That company must tell the other two.
Get your free credit reports from TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. Go to annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
Review your reports. If you find any accounts or charges you don't recognize, follow the steps in What to Do Next on page 3.
Did someone use your child's information to commit fraud? Call the company where the fraud occurred.
Did someone file taxes using your child's Social Security number? Complete IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. Mail or fax the form according to the instructions. If that doesn't resolve the problem, contact the IRS for specialized assistance at 1-800-908-4490.
To find out if your child has a credit report, request a manual search for your child's Social Security number. Each credit bureau has its own process for this:
Why check for a credit report? Generally, children won't have credit reports – unless someone is using their information for fraud.
If a credit bureau has a credit report for your child, they will send you a copy of the report. To remove fraudulent accounts, follow the instructions provided with the credit report.
Request a freeze to make it more difficult for someone to use your child's Social Security number to open accounts. To place a freeze, follow the specific instructions for each credit bureau at identitytheft.gov/child.
If you suspect that someone used your information to get medical services, get copies of your medical records:
Federal law gives you the right to know what's in your medical files.
Did your provider refuse to give you copies of the records to protect the identity thief's privacy rights? You can appeal. Contact the person listed in your provider's Notice of Privacy Practices, the patient representative, or the ombudsman. Explain the situation and ask for your file.
If the provider refuses to provide your records within 30 days of your written request, you may complain to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at hhs.gov/ocr.
Review your medical records, and report any errors to your health care provider.
Your health care provider should respond to your letter within 30 days. Ask the provider to fix the mistake and notify other health care providers who may have the same mistake in their records.
Notify your health insurer.
If there are medical billing errors on your credit report, notify all three credit bureaus by following the steps under What to Do Next on page 3.
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send or receive.
If you create a free account at IdentityTheft.gov, you can get these letters pre-filled with your information.
Additional letters are available at IdentityTheft.gov/sample-letters.
Notice to Furnishers of Information
This sample letter will help you dispute and close a fraudulent account that was opened by an identity thief. The text in [brackets] indicates where you must customize the letter.
[Date]
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Name of Company]
[Fraud Department]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[RE: Your Account Number (if known)] Dear Sir or Madam:
I am a victim of identity theft. I recently learned that my personal information was used to open an account at your company. I did not open or authorize this account, and I request that it be closed immediately. Please send me written confirmation that I am not responsible for charges on this account, and take appropriate steps to remove information about this account from my credit files.
I have enclosed a copy of my Identity Theft Report, proof of my identity, and a copy of my credit report showing fraudulent accounts. I also have enclosed a copy of the Notice to Furnishers of Information, which explains your responsibilities when reporting information to credit bureaus. When you receive a request like this with an Identity Theft Report, you must stop reporting fraudulent debts to credit bureaus.
The Notice also states that if a credit bureau notifies you that information you provided may be the result of identity theft, you must stop reporting the inaccurate information and you cannot attempt to sell or transfer the fraudulent debts to another party for collection.
Please send me a letter explaining your findings and actions.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Enclosures: [List what you are enclosing]
This sample letter will help you dispute fraudulent charges on your accounts. The text in [brackets] indicates where you must customize the letter.
[Date]
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Name of Company]
[Fraud Department]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[RE: Your Account Number (if known)] Dear Sir or Madam:
I am a victim of identity theft, and I am writing to dispute the following fraudulent charges on my account:
I did not make the charges listed above. I request that you remove all fraudulent charges and any related fees, send me an updated and accurate statement, and close the account. I also request that you stop reporting the inaccurate information to credit bureaus.
I have enclosed my Identity Theft Report, proof of my identity, and a copy of my credit report showing fraudulent items related to your company. I also have enclosed a copy of the Notice to Furnishers of Information, which explains your responsibilities when providing information to credit bureaus.
The Notice also states that if a credit bureau notifies you that information you provided may be the result of identity theft, you must stop reporting the inaccurate information and you cannot attempt to sell or transfer the fraudulent debts to another party for collection.
Please investigate this matter and send me a written explanation of your findings and actions.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Enclosures: [List what you are enclosing]
This sample letter will help remove inaccurate information on your credit report. The text in [brackets] indicates where you must customize the letter.
[Date]
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[RE: Your Account Number (if known)] Dear Sir or Madam:
I am a victim of identity theft. The information listed below, which appears on my credit report, does not relate to any transaction(s) that I have made. It is the result of identity theft.
[Identify item(s) resulting from the identity theft that should be blocked, by name of the source, such as the credit card issuer or bank, and type of item, such as credit account, checking account, etc.]
I have enclosed my Identity Theft Report, proof of my identity, and a copy of my credit report showing fraudulent items.
Please block this information from my credit report, pursuant to section 605B of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and send the required notifications to all furnishers of this information.
I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter, and await your reply.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Enclosures: [List what you are enclosing]
This sample letter will help you request that a debt collector stop collecting debts that you don't owe. The text in [brackets] indicates where you must customize the letter.
[Date]
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Name of Credit Collection Company]
[Company Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[RE: Your Account Number (if known)]
I am a victim of identity theft. An identity thief used my personal information without my permission to make purchases with [name of business where account was opened]. This debt is not mine. I have enclosed proof of my identity, a copy of my Identity Theft Report, and my credit report.
In accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I am asking you to immediately stop all collection activities about this debt, and stop reporting it to credit bureaus. I also ask that you tell the business where the account was opened that this debt is the result of identity theft.
I have enclosed a copy of the Notice to Furnishers of Information. It explains your responsibilities under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA requires that debt collectors give an identity theft victim documents related to an account if the victim asks. Please send me copies of all records relating to the account, including:
Please send me a letter explaining what you have done to:
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Enclosures: [List what you are enclosing]
All furnishers of consumer reports must comply with all applicable regulations, including regulations promulgated after this notice was first prescribed in 2004. Information about applicable regulations currently in effect can be found at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's website, consumerfinance.gov/learnmore.
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), 15 U.S.C. § 1681-1681y, imposes responsibilities on all persons who furnish information to consumer reporting agencies (CRAs). These responsibilities are found in Section 623 of the
FCRA, 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2. State law may impose additional requirements on furnishers. All furnishers of information to CRAs should become familiar with the applicable laws and may want to consult with their counsel to ensure that they are in compliance. The text of the FCRA is set forth in full at the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's website at consumerfinance.gov/learnmore. A list of the sections of the FCRA cross-referenced to the U.S. Code is at the end of this document.
Section 623 imposes the following duties:
The banking and credit union regulators and the CFPB will promulgate guidelines and regulations dealing with the accuracy of information provided to CRAs by furnishers. The regulations and guidelines issued by the CFPB will be available at consumerfinance.gov/learnmore when they are issued. Section 623(e).
The FCRA prohibits information furnishers from providing information to a CRA that they know or have reasonable cause to believe is inaccurate. However, the furnisher is not subject to this general prohibition if it clearly and conspicuously specifies an address to which consumers may write to notify the furnisher that certain information is inaccurate. Sections 623(a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(C).
If at any time a person who regularly and in the ordinary course of business furnishes information to one or more CRAs determines that the information provided is not complete or accurate, the furnisher must promptly provide complete and accurate information to the CRA. In addition, the furnisher must notify all CRAs that received the information of any corrections, and must thereafter report only the complete and accurate information. Section 623(a)(2).
If a consumer notifies a furnisher, at an address specified by the furnisher for such notices, that specific information is inaccurate, and the information is, in fact, inaccurate, the furnisher must thereafter report the correct information to CRAs. Section 623(a)(1)(B).
If a consumer notifies a furnisher that the consumer disputes the completeness or accuracy of any information reported by the furnisher, the furnisher may not subsequently report that information to a CRA without providing notice of the dispute. Section 623(a)(3).
The federal banking and credit union regulators and the CFPB will issue regulations that will identify when an information furnisher must investigate a dispute made directly to the furnisher by a consumer. Once these regulations are issued, furnishers must comply with them and complete an investigation within 30 days (or 45 days, if the consumer later provides relevant additional information) unless the dispute is frivolous or irrelevant or comes from a "credit repair organization." The CFPB regulations will be available at consumerfinance.gov. Section 623(a)(8).
If a CRA notifies a furnisher that a consumer disputes the completeness or accuracy of information provided by the furnisher, the furnisher has a duty to follow certain procedures. The furnisher must:
If a consumer voluntarily closes a credit account, any person who regularly and in the ordinary course of business furnishes information to one or more CRAs must report this fact when it provides information to CRAs for the time period in which the account was closed. Section 623(a)(4).
If a furnisher reports information concerning a delinquent account placed for collection, charged to profit or loss, or subject to any similar action, the furnisher must, within 90 days after reporting the information, provide the CRA with the month and the year of the commencement of the delinquency that immediately preceded the action, so that the agency will know how long to keep the information in the consumer's file. Section 623(a)(5).
Any person, such as a debt collector, that has acquired or is responsible for collecting delinquent accounts and that reports information to CRAs may comply with the requirements of Section 623(a)(5) (until there is a consumer dispute) by reporting the same delinquency date previously reported by the creditor. If the creditor did not report this date, they may comply with the FCRA by establishing reasonable procedures to obtain and report delinquency dates, or, if a delinquency date cannot be reasonably obtained, by following reasonable procedures to ensure that the date reported precedes the date when the account was placed for collection, charged to profit or loss, or subjected to any similar action. Section 623(a)(5).
Financial institutions that furnish information to "nationwide" consumer reporting agencies, as defined in Section 603(p), must notify consumers in writing if they may furnish or have furnished negative information to a CRA. Section 623(a)(7). The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has prescribed model disclosures, 12 CFR Part 1022, App. B.
A furnisher whose primary business is providing medical services, products, or devices (and such furnisher's agents or assignees) is a medical information furnisher for the purposes of the FCRA and must notify all CRAs to which it reports of this fact. Section 623(a)(9). This notice will enable CRAs to comply with their duties under Section 604(g) when reporting medical information.
All furnishers must have in place reasonable procedures to respond to notifications from CRAs that information furnished is the result of identity theft, and to prevent refurnishing the information in the future. A furnisher may not furnish information that a consumer has identified as resulting from identity theft unless the furnisher subsequently knows or is informed by the consumer that the information is correct. Section 623(a)(6). If a furnisher learns that it has furnished inaccurate information due to identity theft, it must notify each consumer reporting agency of the correct information and must thereafter report only complete and accurate information. Section 623(a)(2). When any furnisher of information is notified pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 605B that a debt has resulted from identity theft, the furnisher may not sell, transfer, or place for collection the debt except in certain limited circumstances. Section 615(f).
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website, consumerfinance.gov/learnmore, has more information about the FCRA.
Citations for FCRA sections in the U.S. Code, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.:
| Section 603 Section 604 Section 605 Section 605A Section 605B Section 606 Section 607 Section 608 Section 609 Section 610 Section 611 Section 612 Section 613 Section 614 | 15 U.S.C. 1681 15 U.S.C. 1681a 15 U.S.C. 1681b 15 U.S.C. 1681c 15 U.S.C. 1681c-1 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 15 U.S.C. 1681d 15 U.S.C. 1681e 15 U.S.C. 1681f 15 U.S.C. 1681g 15 U.S.C. 1681h 15 U.S.C. 1681i 15 U.S.C. 1681j 15 U.S.C. 1681k 15 U.S.C. 1681l | Section 615 Section 616 Section 617 Section 618 Section 619 Section 620 Section 621 Section 622 Section 623 Section 624 Section 625 Section 626 Section 627 Section 628 Section 629 | 15 U.S.C. 1681m 15 U.S.C. 1681n 15 U.S.C. 1681o 15 U.S.C. 1681p 15 U.S.C. 1681q 15 U.S.C. 1681r 15 U.S.C. 1681s 15 U.S.C. 1681s-1 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 15 U.S.C. 1681t 15 U.S.C. 1681u 15 U.S.C. 1681v 15 U.S.C. 1681w 15 U.S.C. 1681x 15 U.S.C. 1681y |
If someone steals your identity, you have the right to:
You have the right to:
You have the right to:
You have the right to:
You have limited liability for fraudulent debts caused by identity theft.
| If you report your debit card lost: | Your maximum loss is: |
| Before any unauthorized charges are made | $0 |
| Within 2 business days after you learn about the loss or theft | $50 |
| More than 2 business days after you learn about the loss or theft, but less than 60 calendar days after your statement is sent to you | $500 |
| More than 60 calendar days after your statement is sent to you | Possibly unlimited |
Under the Justice for All Act, you have additional rights when the identity thief is criminally prosecuted in federal court. You have the right to:
In many states, businesses or organizations that lose or misplace certain types of personal information must tell you if that has happened. To learn more, check with your state and local consumer protection offices, which you can find at usa.gov/state-consumer.
Did you recently get a notice that says your personal information was exposed in a data breach? Did you lose your wallet? Or learn that an online account was hacked? Did a company contact you because someone tried to open a credit card in your name?
Going forward, it's important to monitor your credit report and your accounts. If you find accounts or charges that you don't recognize, read What To Do Right Away on page 1.
Depending on what information was lost or stolen, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft.
If a company responsible for exposing your information offers you free credit monitoring, take advantage of it.
Get your free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com. Check for any accounts or charges you don't recognize.
Consider placing a credit freeze. A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name.
If you place a freeze, be ready to take a few extra steps the next time you apply for a new credit card or cell phone – or any service that requires a credit check.
If you decide not to place a credit freeze, at least consider placing a fraud alert.
Try to file your taxes early – before a scammer can. Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job. Respond right away to letters from the IRS.
Don't believe anyone who calls and says you'll be arrested unless you pay for taxes or debt – even if they have part or all of your Social Security number, or they say they're from the IRS.
Continue to check your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com. You can order a free report from each of the three credit bureaus once a year.
Log in to that account and change your password. If possible, also change your username.
If you can't log in, contact the company. Ask them how you can recover or shut down the account.
If you use the same password anywhere else, change that, too.
Is it a financial site, or is your credit card number stored? Check your account for any charges that you don't recognize.
Contact your bank or credit card company to cancel your card and request a new one.
Review your transactions regularly. Make sure no one misused your card.
If you find fraudulent charges, call the fraud department and get them removed.
If you have automatic payments set up, update them with your new card number.
Check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.
Contact your bank to close the account and open a new one.
Review your transactions regularly to make sure no one misused your account.
If you find fraudulent charges or withdrawals, call the fraud department and get them removed.
If you have automatic payments set up, update them with your new bank account information.
Check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.
Contact your nearest motor vehicles branch to report a lost or stolen driver's license. The state might flag your license number in case someone else tries to use it, or they might suggest that you apply for a duplicate."
Check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.
Contact each credit bureau and request a credit freeze for your child – if this service is available in your state. A credit freeze will make it difficult for someone to use your child's information to open accounts. To place a freeze, follow the specific instructions for each credit bureau.
No matter what state you live in, you can check to see if your child has a credit report. Each bureau has specific instructions for these requests, too.
If a credit bureau has a credit report for your child, the credit bureau will send you a copy of the report. Use the instructions provided with the credit report to remove the fraudulent accounts.
Review the FTC's information on Child Identity Theft at consumer.ftc.gov/childidt.