Identity Theft of Family Members
"Tom Hancock grew suspicious when the father of his grandchildren, Philip T. Janvier, moved into a new apartment.
The New Hope Road complex, with a pool, playground and buildings flanked by azalea bushes, appeared too expensive for Janvier, who was unemployed, Hancock said.
So he went to the police.
A few weeks later, Hancock learned that the apartment, along with a Bank of America checking account, was actually in the name of his grandson -- a toddler who was 2 when Janvier used his Social Security number and name, according to arrest warrants.
Last week Raleigh police charged Janvier with two counts of financial identity fraud.
The case sounds like an anomaly, but investigators say that as identity fraud rises, this niche -- using kin's identity to perpetrate fraud -- is increasing, too.
"It happens much more than you usually think," said Sgt. C.L. Cosper of the Raleigh Police Department.
All thieves look for is opportunity, he said: Knowing someone else's name, date of birth and Social Security number affords one.
Last week, a grand jury indicted a Raleigh man for using his son's Social Security number to obtain credit cards and rack up more than $4,700 in charges, according to court documents.
In January, Cary police arrested a 38-year-old man on felony charges after he obtained property by using his son's name and Social Security number to get a driver's license and take out a loan, police said. His son was 8 years old at the time.
The Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit agency that researches identity theft nationwide and educates citizens, gets about 700 requests for help a week, said Linda Foley, the group's executive director. More than one-third of its calls and e-mail messages, about 250 a week, involve the abuse of a child's identity by a parent.
Foley said that many children who discover their parents have stolen or abused their identities are reluctant to come forward. "Some [family members] are in complete denial because they don't want to cause a fuss," he said. "They don't want to stir the pot."
Many of the victims and offenders who were contacted for this story declined to comment. Others could not be located.
In a typical identity theft of a relative, an adult will get a line of credit using a child's name and Social Security number. The date of birth is changed so the victim appears older. When creditors enter the Social Security number, computerized databases show a clean credit report.
There are common factors in the fraud cases, investigators said. Often, when police investigate a single complaint, it blossoms into several charges. Or, a victim has a clean credit history, which doesn't raise any flags for creditors.
Another factor can be the family itself. "Typically it comes from a dysfunctional family," Cosper said. "Maybe there were underlying issues with the family, and this brings it all to a head."
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The New Hope Road complex, with a pool, playground and buildings flanked by azalea bushes, appeared too expensive for Janvier, who was unemployed, Hancock said.
So he went to the police.
A few weeks later, Hancock learned that the apartment, along with a Bank of America checking account, was actually in the name of his grandson -- a toddler who was 2 when Janvier used his Social Security number and name, according to arrest warrants.
Last week Raleigh police charged Janvier with two counts of financial identity fraud.
The case sounds like an anomaly, but investigators say that as identity fraud rises, this niche -- using kin's identity to perpetrate fraud -- is increasing, too.
"It happens much more than you usually think," said Sgt. C.L. Cosper of the Raleigh Police Department.
All thieves look for is opportunity, he said: Knowing someone else's name, date of birth and Social Security number affords one.
Last week, a grand jury indicted a Raleigh man for using his son's Social Security number to obtain credit cards and rack up more than $4,700 in charges, according to court documents.
In January, Cary police arrested a 38-year-old man on felony charges after he obtained property by using his son's name and Social Security number to get a driver's license and take out a loan, police said. His son was 8 years old at the time.
The Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit agency that researches identity theft nationwide and educates citizens, gets about 700 requests for help a week, said Linda Foley, the group's executive director. More than one-third of its calls and e-mail messages, about 250 a week, involve the abuse of a child's identity by a parent.
Foley said that many children who discover their parents have stolen or abused their identities are reluctant to come forward. "Some [family members] are in complete denial because they don't want to cause a fuss," he said. "They don't want to stir the pot."
Many of the victims and offenders who were contacted for this story declined to comment. Others could not be located.
In a typical identity theft of a relative, an adult will get a line of credit using a child's name and Social Security number. The date of birth is changed so the victim appears older. When creditors enter the Social Security number, computerized databases show a clean credit report.
There are common factors in the fraud cases, investigators said. Often, when police investigate a single complaint, it blossoms into several charges. Or, a victim has a clean credit history, which doesn't raise any flags for creditors.
Another factor can be the family itself. "Typically it comes from a dysfunctional family," Cosper said. "Maybe there were underlying issues with the family, and this brings it all to a head."
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posted by Dave at 11:57 AM
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