Family member stealing social security number. What are the options?

I have a friend who%26#039;s mother is an alcoholic and recently found out that her mother used her social security number to setup a utility account. Her mother didn%26#039;t pay the bill and now creditors are calling my friend saying she owes $600. Obviously she doesn%26#039;t want to pay the money but also doesn%26#039;t want to press charges on her ill mother. What options does she have now and how can she protect herself in the future? Does she need to change her SSN (which I hear is a terrible process)? Thanks!!|||Your friend should look into Zander Identity Theft Insurance. It is the only one that I know of that covers identity theft by a family member. Changing a SSN is very difficult. She could put a freeze on her credit reports. I hate to say it but putting a fraud charge on may be her only way out. It may also scare her mother enough so that she might stop drinking. Pressing charges may sound terrible in the short run but it could be better for Mom in the long run.|||If the party refuses to press charges, then there is nothing can be done. You can not change a SSN. She can put the account on fraud alert through Trans Union Fraud Dept. Their toll free # 1-800-680-7289. They will notify the other 2 bureaus. It has to be renewed every 90 days.|||Actually she need to place fraud alert on all three credit bureaus. Here is the information:





Credit Bureau Fraud Departments





TransUnion


Fraud Victim Assistance Department


Phone: 800-680-7289


Fax: 714-447-6034


P.O. Box 6790


Fullerton, CA 92634-6790





Equifax


Consumer Fraud Division


Phone: 800-525-6285 or: 404-885-8000


Fax: 770-375-2821


P.O. Box 740241


Atlanta, GA 30374-0241








Experian


Experian%26#039;s National Consumer Assistance


Phone: 888-397-3742


P.O. Box 2104


Allen, TX 75013





A fraud alert is a credit freeze. Anytime a company (utilities, cell phone etc) want to grant credit to the SSN, they will have to speak with her first. For more information about protecting her identify, go to http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/flag.h鈥?/a>





She should also check out her credit reports, in case there are credit accounts opened in her name.





Best wishes.