Child Identity Theft Read online

  Child Identity Theft

  Child Identity Theft

  What Every Parent Needs to Know

  Robert P. Chappell, Jr.

  ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD PUBLISHERS, INC.

  Lanham • Boulder • New York • Toronto • Plymouth, UK

  Published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

  A wholly owned subsidiary of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

  4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706

  www.rowman.com

  10 Thornbury Road, Plymouth PL6 7PP, United Kingdom

  Copyright © 2013 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

  British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Chappell, Robert P.

  Child identity theft : what every parent needs to know / Robert P. Chappell, Jr.

  p. cm.

  Includes bibliographical references and index.

  ISBN 978-1-4422-1862-8 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-4422-1864-2 (electronic)

  1. Identity theft—United States . 2. Identity theft—United States—Prevention. I. Title.

  HV6679.C428 2013

  332.024—dc23

  2012036123

  ™ The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Contents

  Contents

  Foreword

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1: Understanding Child Identity Theft

  Chapter 2: Recognizing How Child Identity Theft Happens

  Chapter 3: Detecting and Reporting Identity Theft

  Chapter 4: Dealing with Child Identity Theft

  Chapter 5: Coping with the Emotional Fallout from Child Identity Theft

  Chapter 6: Preventing Child Identity Theft

  Chapter 7: Further Resources

  Notes

  Resource List

  About the Author

  Foreword

  King F. Davis, Jr.

  When Bob Chappell asked me to write the foreword for his book, I was visiting my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson at their home in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in beautiful Roanoke, Virginia. This is also where Bob Chappell serves as the field lieutenant for a division headquarters of the Virginia State Police. I have known Bob for fifteen years, both as an Army officer and as a fellow law enforcement officer. Although I had not seen him for several years, we have always stayed in touch. I was happy, no, eager, to accept his request.

  Bob Chappell is one of the most talented, hardworking, sincere, and patriotic servants to the citizens of this country and the Commonwealth of Virginia. When I first met Bob, I was a Colonel, Special Forces, U.S. Army Reserve, and had just taken command of the 2d Brigade of the Army Reserve’s 80th Division (Blue Ridge Division). The division headquarters is located in Richmond, Virginia, and the 2d Brigade’s headquarters is in Roanoke/Salem, Virginia.

  Bob was a young Army Reserve Captain and the Aide de Camp for the division commander. He had a tough job. The Commanding General (CG) was a demanding “old-school”-type soldier who ran the division with an iron hand. He clearly wanted the entire division to live up to the Army’s old recruiting slogan, “Be all you can be.” He drove himself hard and expected the same from those that worked for him.

  At the time, my civilian job was as an assistant to the special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington, D.C., field office. Further, I was on loan to the Baltimore/Washington High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area as agent in charge of a multijurisdictional counterdrug task force. As you might guess, my civilian job was intense, time consuming, and dangerous. That, coupled with handling Army issues at lunch, odd times of my day, evenings, and weekends, left me nearly worn out and somewhat frazzled. I wasn’t the only one in that boat. The other brigade commanders and division staff officers were equally, or even more, successful and busy at their civilian jobs and equally, or even more, pressured with Army business.

  Since Bob went with the general almost everywhere and seemed to be doing Army duties continuously, I assumed that he had to be either a full-time, active-duty National Guard/reservist, had a part-time job, or at least had a job that allowed him almost unlimited time to tend to his Army duties. He made the Energizer Bunny look like a couch potato. A few weeks later I was astounded when he told me that we had law enforcement careers in common and that he was a Virginia state trooper, also assigned to a counterdrug squad.

  Within law enforcement circles, the Virginia State Police is known as an outstanding organization. Its troopers are elite, thoroughly screened, well trained, and highly professional. The Virginia State Police does not take a backseat to any other law enforcement agency, federal, state, or local. I had been impressed with Bob Chappell before, but after finding out about his civilian position, I was in awe of this young officer.

  As time went on, my assessment and praise for Bob increased severalfold. When his tour as Aide de Camp was finished, I sought him out to be the S-1 (head of the administrative staff) for the 2d Brigade. This was in spite of the fact that he was a Captain and the position called for a Major. With Bob as the S-1, the 2d Brigade led the division, and even the Army Reserve, in on-time and complete officer and noncommissioned officer evaluation reports, recruiting, and military occupational specialty (MOS) qualification. These were problem areas that seemed unsolvable throughout the Army Reserve. Yet, Bob’s talent; passion; skill in working with people; and amazing, indefatigable drive enabled him to find and institute solutions that were the envy of other units.

  In 1999, after I retired from the Army Reserve, I kept in contact with Bob. As an Army officer, he was promoted to Major, then Lieutenant Colonel, and took command of a battalion in the 2d Brigade. His battalion was eventually deployed to Iraq, where he led soldiers with distinction.

  After retirement, I became a police chief in Los Angeles County and tried to steal Bob away to fill a vacant sergeant’s position. His loyalty to the Virginia State Police kept him in his home state and led to his promotion to sergeant, first sergeant, and then lieutenant, with extensive experience in both patrol and investigative assignments.

  When Bob first told me that he was writing a book, I told him that I had started to write one about my experiences in the Secret Service but got stuck and never seemed to be able to finish. My question was, “How did you do it? What motivated you to press through to the last period?”

  His answer . . . “The information that I was writing about is so important to the youth of this nation and their parents that I HAD to complete the book!”

  That was a powerful statement, and I had to know more. As a Secret Service agent and police chief, I have been associated with the investigation of several cases of identity theft. Those cases involved the identities of persons with the same or similar names, or deceased persons, but I was not aware of the magnitude or severe ramifications of child identity theft. Over the next hour, Bob kept my family and me enthralled with vital information that we needed to know. My daughter and son-in-law were especially interested, since they have a two-year-old son and will likely have more children in the future. As a grandparent, I was astonished by what I learned and am convinced that you will be too.

  Among other t
hings, Bob explained how child identities have become vulnerable due to the way Social Security numbers are issued and how births, and deaths, are recorded and announced. He explained the ease with which credit, credit cards, and bank accounts are granted to the spotless backgrounds of children. He also explained how these criminals avoid detection because, unlike adults, children never check their credit scores or review bank statements, credit card accounts, or other financial statements. Bob also pointed out how these cases can cover the activities of gangs and terrorists groups. In other words, child identity theft is relevant to all of us. Plus, the impact of these crimes is far reaching and potentially devastating.

  I’m sure you will enjoy and benefit from reading this book written by a truly good person with a passion for the safety and well-being of his fellow man.

  King F. Davis, Jr.

  Glendora, California

  September 2012

  Acknowledgments

  To those who have loved and supported me during the writing of this book, and in life, I say thank you.

  To Julie Christine, whose love and support is my driving force in life.

  To Leslie Danielle, who provides sunshine in my heart each and every day.

  To Elizabeth Michelle, who was the first to bring me the joy of being a father.

  To Megan and Jesse, who keep me young at heart.

  To my mother, Florine Chappell, who has provided me with unconditional love her entire life.

  To the memory of my late father, Robert P. Chappell, Sr., whom I love and miss deeply.

  To my sister, Tamara, who shares my kindred spirit. I love you very much.

  To my sister, Cindy, who diligently cares for our mother, I love you and thank you.

  To my nephew and niece, Willem and Claire, for their love of “Uncle Bob.”

  To my aunts, Sheila, Mary, Marjorine, Bessie, Janette, and Beatrice, who have loved me over the years.

  To my late Uncle James Chappell, a great man who loved America. My service with the 101st Airborne in Iraq was in memory of you.

  To my late Uncle Russell Chappell who loved me, treating me as one of his own children.

  To my lifelong friend Ron “Keith” Farley.

  To my good friend and supporter, Marilyn McCurdy.

  To my agent, Claire Gerus, who believed in me and gave me the strength to realize my dream of publishing this book.

  To Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group for your part in helping to make my dream a success.

  To King F. Davis, Jr., for his willingness to write the foreword and his kind words.

  To one of the greatest leaders and mentors I have ever had the privilege to work for in all my years in law enforcement, Captain Steven L. Chumley of the Virginia State Police. God blessed me with the opportunity to learn from you.

  To the members of the Virginia State Police who faithfully serve the Commonwealth of Virginia.

  To the members of the Virginia State Police Color Guard team, both past and present, for your dedication to our mission.

  To those who helped make me successful in the Virginia State Police Division 1 during my tenure there:

  Commonwealth of Virginia—Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker

  Virginia State Police—Lt. Tom Bradshaw, Sgt. Alan Chambers, Sgt. Chris Clark, Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Lt. J.C. Lewis, F/Sgt. Ray Newby, F/Sgt. Hans Rehme, Lt. John Ruffin, Sgt. Kevin Satterfield, F/Sgt. Michele Ticho, and Sgt. Marilyne Wilson

  Virginia Capitol Police—Lieutenant John McKee

  Henrico County Police (Virginia)—Captain Chris Alberta

  Richmond City Police (Virginia)—Lieutenant Colonel John Buturla, Major Steve Drew

  To my good friend Lieutenant Curtis Hardison, who has always had my back in life.

  To Trooper Landon Umberger, who keeps my legacy alive.

  To the many secretaries who have supported me in my career and made me successful behind the scenes.

  To my career-long friends in law enforcement, Chief Don Goodman (Radford, Virginia),VSP First Sergeant Frank Pyanoe, Captain Tim Guthrie (Salem, Virginia), Special Agent Glenn Thompson (CSX Railroad Police Department), Special Agent Steve Butcher (U.S. Secret Service), and Officer Shelly Benac (U.S. Capitol Police).

  To Chief Kim Crannis and the officers of the Blacksburg Virginia Police Department, where I started my career in law enforcement.

  To Chief Wendell Flinchum, Major Kevin Foust, Major Gene Deisinger, Captain Joey Albert, Captain Vince Houston, and the officers of the Virginia Tech Police Department. Go Hokies!

  To my fellow graduates of the National Criminal Justice Command College, University of Virginia, for your commitment to enhancing public safety through leadership. A special thanks to Cynthia Orshek for your encouragement and support.

  To the members who served on the Rockbridge Regional Drug Task Force with me and made my role as Drug Task Force Coordinator a success: Hugh Bolen, Stan Bush, Gary Coleman, Tony McFaddin, Jay Patterson, Doug Pugh, Mark Riley, and Rob Tackett.

  To our brave service men and women serving around the world protecting our freedom, and to the United Service Organization (U.S.O.), which has always been there for both the service personnel and their families.

  To those who believed in, mentored, and guided me in my military career: Major General (Retired) Max Guggenheimer, Colonel (Retired) King F. Davis, Colonel (Retired) Kurt J. Jenne, and CW4 (Retired) Phil Culbertson.

  To my Army Reserve buddy, Lieutenant Colonel Wesley Huff, who served with me both stateside and in Iraq. Hooah!

  To Sandra and Dudley Howard (Rixeyville, Virginia) for their patriotic support during my service in Iraq.

  To Colonel (Retired) Frank Blakely and the staff of the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, for providing me with an outstanding education in pursuit of my Master of Strategic Studies degree.

  To the 47th Combat Support Hospital, stationed in Mosul, Iraq, during my tour overseas, for the outstanding medical care provided to me.

  To Christopher L. Lentz, PA, Veteran’s Medical Center, Salem, Virginia, for providing me with the best medical care a soldier could ever ask for. You are an honor to your profession.

  Lastly, to Sergeant First Class Kevin Bellow of the Texas National Guard, who cared for me immediately after I was injured in Iraq, even though he was injured himself; the true test of an outstanding American soldier.

  To anyone whom I may have inadvertently overlooked in my acknowledgments of appreciation, I apologize, as my heart was in the right place and I am grateful for your support.

  1

  Understanding Child Identity Theft

  Chapter 1 of this book provides you with an explanation of exactly what child identity theft is. It also gives alarming facts and statistics about child identity theft, America’s fastest-growing crime committed against children.

  Question #1: What exactly is child identity theft?

  Child identity theft is the use of a child’s identity or personal information by someone other than the child for personal gain or enrichment. A child’s identity or private information might consist of their name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, birth certificate details, death certificate information, or any other information descriptive of the child, which represents or represented them as a particular individual.

  As we’ll discuss in the next chapter, child identity theft is growing rapidly as more criminals see its benefits. The difference between stealing a child’s identity and an adult’s identity is the former’s “shelf-life appeal,” that is, the likelihood that the theft of personal information from a child will go undetected for a longer period of time. If you’ve attempted to obtain a home loan recently, you know that it is a slow and cumbersome process. A thief needs to steal an identity that the owner will not be checking every thirty days. With a child’s Social Security number, a thief not only gets a clean credit history, but it’s likely the crime won’t be discovered until the child grows up and applies for credit or a studen
t loan.

  There are two types of child identity theft: financial and criminal. In financial identity theft, the perpetrator uses the child’s Social Security number and/or name to open new lines of credit. Contrary to popular belief, credit issuers currently do not have a system in place to verify the age of the applicant. They also do not ask for other identification to determine whether the name and Social Security number are a match. This loophole has created an opportunity for scammers and thieves, and consumer groups are pushing to have it closed by creating a verification system, as I will discuss later in this book.

  Criminal identity theft is committed when someone “borrows,” or permanently steals, the identifying information of a child. The information obtained is then used to obtain a license, medical insurance, or employment, or it may even be used in the commission of a crime. This often happens in cases where someone had their license revoked and is seeking a new one, or when an illegal immigrant is trying to qualify for a job in the United States.

  One of the reasons child identity theft has become so prevalent is because awareness of its existence is lacking. Many parents fail to realize the danger and do not know what questions to ask, which means the crime can remain undetected for years. Under normal circumstances, for example, you would never wonder if your child had a mortgage or a bankruptcy in another state. And if he or she did, would you know what to do?

  Yet these are precisely the issues that arise when child identity theft occurs. Take Nathan, a typical victim, who later sought professional help in clearing his name. According to an article published by AllClear ID Alert Network,1 when Nathan was fourteen years old, his parents discovered he was $600,000 in debt. In addition to showing numerous credit cards in collection, his credit report included a foreclosure on a home fraudulently purchased in his name years earlier by the person who stole his identity.