Baiting Identity Thieves: Why Foster Kids Are More Susceptible to Stolen Identities
“My life was in their hands,” explains Jaleesa Suell, referring to her experience in the foster care system. Now a hard-working college student, she wants nothing more than a solid line of credit so she can do things like buy a car and rent an apartment.
Suell entered foster care when she was eight years old. While in foster care she was transferred to seven new placements, and each time, she enrolled in a new school. While the schools were “safe havens” to her, it was difficult finding her way, but she ultimately enrolled in college.
When Jaleesa turned 21 last year, she wanted to establish a line of credit and applied for a credit card. However, she was denied. She didn’t know why, but after reviewing her credit report, she saw that someone had fraudulently opened a card in her name when she was a young child.
Now she's struggling to get that off her credit report. She has gone back and forth with banks and the credit bureaus for more than six months. "I'm still having trouble establishing a line of credit. I can’t get a car, and I fear after I graduate I won't be able to get an apartment," she says.
As Suell explains in the Identity Theft 911 audio interview below, those in charge of her home and school placements had access to all her personal information.
Foster Youth At Greatest Risk
“Foster youth are particularly vulnerable to identity theft because of the transient nature of their lives,” says Identity Theft 911 CEO Matt Cullina.
For those kids who transition to new homes and schools frequently – like Suell experienced throughout her childhood — their Social Security numbers and other personal information become tempting bait to identity thieves.
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