LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Identity thieves don’t always swipe data to impersonate.
Sometimes, bad actors use bits of stolen information to create an entirely new, fictitious person in what’s called “synthetic ID theft.”
The bad actors may use a child’s social security number, or they may just make one up. Then it’s combined with an address, possibly the victim’s and use it to apply for loans and credit cards.
They may make up the payments until the limits get really high. When the cards or accounts are maxed out, they disappear, and the victim or the child may be stuck with the bills.
Protection from this brand of crime is as simple as freezing your credit. It can be done quickly online through the major credit bureaus, and it can be undone just as easily when you’re ready to apply for real.
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