Protecting Children, Vulnerable Adults and the Elderly

Freezing a Minor's Credit Report
Don't hinder your child’s ability to establish good credit immediately upon adulthood.
The children in your family are at high risk for Synthetic Identity Theft. A criminal will use your child's Social Security number to fabricate an entire identity over many years. It can hinder their bright future because it usually goes undetected until your child applies for their first credit card, car loan or student loan.
In order to protect minors, you will need to first call each credit bureau and give the representative your child's Social Security number to make sure that a credit file does not exist. Then you are required to contact each credit bureau in writing to open the child’s credit and place a security freeze. You are also required to submit supporting documentation.
Because we found this process daunting, we created our Identity Protection Packet for Minors to make it easy for you!
Below are the links to each Bureau's Minor's Freeze pages for your reference. Beginning September 21, 2018, there will no longer be a fee associated with freezing or unfreezing your child's credit report.

Freezing The Credit Reports of Senior Citizen's and Vulnerable Adults
Senior Citizens are prime targets for so many different types of fraud. Freezing their credit is the best way to protect them.
Senior Citizens are constantly being bombarded with phone calls, mail and email scams, tricking them into giving out their personal information, credit card number, and even allowing remote access to their computers.
Please take the time to help the Senior's in your family go through the process of freezing their credit. You can simply help them navigate the freeze websites or assist in calling each freeze hotline.
If you are the Power Of Attorney for a loved one, you are able to submit the documentation to each credit bureau and act on their behalf.
Make sure to aid in keeping the pin in a safe place in case you need to assist in utilizing their credit in the future.
Evade Identity Theft of a Deceased Loved One
Protecting the Deceased From Identity Theft (and yourself from dealing with it).
Identity theft is likely the last thing on a family’s mind when trying to process the death of a loved one. However, you do not want to cause yourself additional strife.
Below are a few recommendations to follow:
Don’t over-share in the obituary
According to AARP, many identity thieves scour personal information from funeral homes and obituaries. Make sure not to reveal too much information. General age of the deceased, is fine, but stating the birthday is not. The deceased’s mother’s maiden name, can also do a great deal of damage (just think of how many times you have been asked that question to verify your identity or as a “secret questions”).
Inform Financial Institutions
Investment Firms, Banks, Insurers, Credit Card Companies, etc.
Inform the three main credit reporting bureaus
If there was a security freeze on your loved ones' credit report, no action is necessary. If there was not one, you may want to mail a letter requesting to place a "deceased alert" on their report along with a copy of the death certificate and documentation you are the executor of the estate.
Inform Social Security
Calling 1-800-772-1213.
Cancel Driver’s License
Contact the local DMV to inform them of the death and to obtain their protocol, as it varies state to state.
Terminating a passport
Although you are not required to terminate a passport, you may want to protect from possible fraudulent use of it if it were to fall into the wrong hands prior to expiring. This requires a letter of instruction notifying them of the death along with the passport and a copy of the death certificate be mailed. Make sure to request it be returned it if you wish for it to be kept as a memento.
Attention CLASP
1111 19th St NW, Suite 500,
Washington, DC 20036