Infant Identity Data Being Sold On The Dark Web

I have long cautioned parents that the identities of their children are prime targets of identity thieves. Think about it -- someone getting an infant's Social Security Number has use of that number for years before a parent (or the child) discovers it, perhaps when the child gets a job or applies for financial aid for college. The thief can open credit card and bank accounts, get jobs, or maybe even buy/rent housing.

Personal example: I have a friend who is an illegal alien. He is working, paying taxes. I asked how he was being employed, given his illegal status. "Oh," he said, "I bought this card when I crossed the border, and it makes me legal."  What kind of card was it?  Likely a Social Security card, perhaps a child's, or an adult, or even a deceased person.

Recently, I have read an article where there is a website on the dark web marketplace discovered to be offering infant's data for sale. The website's ad says, "get em befor tax seson [sic]".

The article says also that the rate of child identity theft is 51 times higher than adults. Often, the child's information includes date of birth and mother's maiden names. Many times, the thief isn't the final user of the data; it is sold to others who need a new identity, like my illegal friend.  The name associated with the stolen SS# may not be the child, made up to fit the buyer better.  Frankly, the IRS isn't quick to act on stolen identities, as long as taxes are being collected. They may come later to the real owner of the SS# and in an audit ask why he/she didn't report the income on the 1040.

Once again, if you are a parent with minor children, or you know families with minors, please encourage them to investigate the offerings of identity theft protection services, such as IDShield (http://IDT.nscky.com).  IDShield costs $24.99/month and includes coverage for two adults and up to 8 minors. It monitors many aspects of the personal data of the parents and the children, and if anything is amiss, their licensed investigators will restore whatever is out of whack, guaranteed. I'm not pushing this just to make a sale; getting ID theft protection is no longer an option, given the record number of breaches of personal information the last few years, and IDShield is the best bang for the buck on the market.

If you'd like to read the full article I referenced earlier, here it is:

#idtheft
#identitytheft

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