Casey headed for her mailbox with anxiety written all over her face. When she opened her mailbox, she pulled out a huge stack of bills. She thought to herself, more bills and more bills, how the hell am I going to pay all these bills? Casey knew that her mortgage payment, electric bill, car payment, water bill, property taxes, and five credit card bills were all due and past due. She had previously borrowed money from all of her credit cards to pay her bills, but her credit cards were maxed out and she didn’t know what she was going to do. Casey also knew that she couldn’t borrow money from her family and friends because they didn’t have money to lend her or because she had already received money that she never paid back. Ella Casey believed that she needed to figure out how she was going to get the money to pay her bills, so she pondered what she was going to do.
As Casey sat in her study at her computer thinking about her dilemma, she came across a retail website that advertised a fifty percent discount on her favorite designer shoes while she was on the Internet. She thought to herself that there would never be another sale on her favorite designer shoes and she really wanted to buy the shoes while they were on sale. Casey thought to herself, how can I buy my favorite designer shoes when all my credit cards are maxed out? She then came up with an idea that she thought might solve her problem. She decided that she would use her son Michael’s personal information to apply for a credit card in her name. She thought that since she had her son’s social security number and all of her personal information, it would be a great idea for her to get a credit card in her name. So, Casey went ahead with her idea and applied for a retail credit card in her son’s name to buy her favorite designer shoes that were on sale. She also added a designer dress and bag to her purchase that day because she wanted her shoes to match these items. Casey was so excited to be able to get approved for this retail credit card in her son’s name so easily that she decided to get additional credit cards. She became even bolder in applying for more credit cards in her son’s name, obtaining a total of eight additional credit cards over a ten-month period. She thought it was okay for her to get these credit cards in her son’s name because she planned to pay off the cards in a few months and it was her son’s duty to help her. However, Casey was never able to pay off the credit cards she had taken out in her son’s name. Michael’s credit was ruined by her mother and she was only ten years old.
Casey didn’t really see that her actions were not only harming her son’s future, but that her actions were illegal because she had actually committed identity theft and financial fraud against her own son.
So if you are a parent who may be anticipating using your child’s identity to obtain credit, open bank accounts, etc. On behalf of your child, STOP, don’t do this to your child! Think about your child’s future, it is very important that you put your child’s future first. Her son must have all the opportunities available for her future without any hindrance or hindrance from her part. Remember that as a parent you are your child’s protector and your child depends on you to do this. After all, you were a child yourself and hoped for a future where you could flourish and shine.
Keep in mind that the disadvantage you may face as a parent committing identity theft and financial fraud against your minor child or adult child may be as follows:
1) A possible felony or misdemeanor conviction based on the severity of the crime of identity theft and financial fraud committed.
2) Federal or state prison time, or possibly both, depending on the severity of the identity theft and financial fraud crime committed.
3) Fines may be imposed.
4) Restitution may be ordered as payment to the crime victim in addition to any fines imposed.
5) Possible long-term or permanent separation from your child voluntarily or involuntarily.
Be warned that children or adults affected by identity theft and financial fraud caused by their parents may face the following problems:
1) Emotional distress, feelings of resentment, sadness, distrust, being violated and betrayed.
2) The discovery of several credit cards, loans, bank accounts, etc… previously subscribed to your name using your personal data when you try to apply for a loan in your name. It is observed that they are denied credit due to their bad credit created by the parents.
3) The young adult tries to apply for a driver’s license and is denied because their social security number was previously used to obtain a driver’s license in their name. The young man discovers that the driver’s license issued to him has numerous unpaid traffic violations and an arrest warrant has been issued for him.
4) Multiple collection agencies are sending collection letters and calling the minor child or adult about delinquent unpaid bills from accounts opened by their parents.
5) You run your credit report and FICO score and discover there are previous credit accounts open in your name and your credit is now clouded.
6) You are trying to decide whether or not you should contact the police to file a police report because your father committed identity theft and financial fraud against you, the victim.
7) The feeling of being isolated from your family members if you report the crime of identity theft and financial fraud to the police even though you are a victim of this crime that has been committed against you.
This list of children or adults affected by identity theft and financial fraud caused by their parents continues for many victims. So the question is; Are you harming your child’s future? If your answer is yes to this question, then do the right thing and take responsibility as part of the first step in fixing this huge problem you have created for your child now. Second, apologize to your child for what he has done and explain why it created this problem for him. Don’t try to justify her crime of identity theft and financial fraud as if it’s okay because she’s not, no matter how you want to perceive this situation.
Keep in mind that it can take years for your child to clear his credit of this huge problem you’ve created for him. Do you really want to hurt your son like this? Don’t you want your son to have a better future? Doesn’t her child deserve every opportunity that may be available to him or her?
