#IdentityTheft #CreditScore #FinancialSecurity #PersonalFinance
Hey there! π It sounds like you’ve uncovered a real mystery with someone taking out a line of credit under your Social Security Number before you were even born! π΅οΈββοΈ Don’t worry, we’ve got some tips to help you navigate this tricky situation.
## Check Your Credit Report
First things first, pull up your credit report to see exactly what accounts are listed under your SSN. Look for any unfamiliar accounts or transactions that could be a result of identity theft. You can request a free copy of your credit report from annualcreditreport.com, which is authorized by the Federal Trade Commission.
### Analyze the Information
Once you have your credit report in hand, carefully review the accounts opened before you were born. Take note of any suspicious activity or discrepancies, such as late payments or unusual spending patterns.
## Contact the Credit Bureaus
If you find any incorrect or fraudulent information on your credit report, reach out to the credit bureaus β Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can file a dispute with them to have the incorrect information removed from your credit report.
### Freeze Your Credit
To prevent any further unauthorized activity, consider placing a credit freeze on your credit reports. This will make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name without your consent.
## Report the Identity Theft
If you believe that someone used your SSN without your permission, report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and your local police department. They can help you navigate the legal steps to protect your identity and financial accounts.
### Monitor Your Credit
After taking these steps, make sure to monitor your credit regularly for any new signs of identity theft. You can set up fraud alerts with the credit bureaus to receive notifications of any suspicious activity on your accounts.
Remember, it’s essential to stay vigilant and proactive in protecting your financial security. By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your credit remains safe and secure. We hope this information helps you resolve the issue and regain control of your financial well-being! πͺππ‘
If you need further assistance, consider reaching out to a financial advisor or identity theft protection service for additional support. Stay safe out there! π #StayProtected #FinancialPeaceOfMind
A social security number without a name and DOB is just a random 9 digit number. Weβve already used about 650 million of the billion possible, so if you make up a random 9 digit number, thereβs about a 2/3rds chance thatβs someoneβs social.
In this particular case, I suspect they just erroneously entered their own number, probably off by a digit or two. Get it removed if you want, but I wouldnβt sweat it.
There isnβt much someone can do currently with a random 9 digit number with no other info.
Youβve already asked your parents if they added you as an authorized user right?
Really curious what 40 years of on time payments does for your score?
If it was opened before you were born, then they didnβt steal your identity. It wasnβt your identity yet. I agree that they likely mistyped their own SSN, however, Iβm curious how they were able to open the card. Not sure how systems were back then, but Iβd think some verification process wouldβve caught it. Nonetheless, it doesnβt seem like itβs illegal to add it on there but IANAL. An erroneous report being removed wouldnβt automatically rank your score. If youβve been responsible with your credit, you should have a strong score on your own.
Wild story, lol. Absolutely just a typo & odd circumstance. The only thing I’m coming up with is that things were much looser back then, and someone got a new identity. Obviously, they don’t wanna screw their new identity that apparently works, so they rolled with it and changed their life (apparently). Only thing that makes sense to me.
If you haven’t already, pull your credit report and see what else shows up on it. Might be more accounts you aren’t aware of. Also, freeze your credit too. No need to take chances with someone else opening up new accounts.
I had the opposite problem, they had lots of debt before I was born π
Do you think they know about your existence? I mean…they could be watching you… π
What happens when you file taxes? Any alerts there or only on this Credit Card? When you apply for a job and use your SSN?
I would contact the SSN place and see if youβre issued the correct number. Then you would know more of your situation. Hopefully, itβs just this one off
So, hereβs whatβs showing up in all likelihood: a parent or guardian has you as an authorized user on one of their accounts. Itβs *their* 40 year old credit line. Youβre getting a boost from that. Doesnβt happen all the time but sometimes itβs super helpful
You are an Authorized User on one of your parents’ card’s. I did this with all of my kids by adding them to our oldest card that reported authorized users. That and adding them as co-borrowers on one of our car loans, once they were older, helped jump start their credit history.
Someone fat fingered the ssn when opening the line of credit.
My FIL took care of everything for his mother for the last 20 years of her life. For that entire time, he had the last 2 digits of her SSN reversed anytime he needed to use it for something. Never caused a bit of trouble with anything.
If someone adds you to their credit card as a user, you inherit their credit history. So if this person had good credit, then it shows up in your credit report as well. I added my younger brother as an authorized user when he turned 18 on my credit cardand immediately showed that he had 10 years of credit history
I wouldnβt get it taken off. Itβs not hurting anybody, and removing it would tank your credit.
Source: experience. Removed a thing where I was an authorized user thinking it was fraud, bye bye 50 points of my credit score.
Most likely there was a transcription error with the other personβs number, but every once in a while the social security office accidentally assigns the same number to two people. Itβs extremely rare but has happened.
You should also know that itβs possible to have a new SSN assigned if you really need to, and you might well qualify if you wanted to pursue it.
Chevron card user? Those are rare
Freeze your credit with all 3 credit bureaus. That will prevent anyone from opening any new accounts with your ID.
You might want to create an account with SSA to see what wages have been reported on your SSN.
All of our kids have credit history older than themβ¦
We add them to existing accounts asap.
Could a family member have added you to a card to help your credit?
How is it listed on your report? Are you listed an authorized user? Joint user?