4-year-old’s identity stolen; person receiving checks with Social Security number, mom says

MESA, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) - A mother in Arizona says what began as a routine application for disability services turned into a nightmare.

Jessica, who asked that her last name not be used, was in the process of applying for Arizona Long Term Care Services for her 4-year-old autistic daughter.

The Mesa mother said that’s when she discovered that her little girl was already a victim of identity theft.

“I had delayed applying for ALTCS for quite a while, and thankfully, I finally did, only to find out that she had had her identity stolen,” she said.

According to Jessica, she was informed by ALTCS officials that someone in Chicago had been receiving paychecks using her daughter’s Social Security number for at least two months.

“Why would you do this? Why would you steal from someone? It’s essentially stealing, right? It’s theft, but it’s not just a tangible item. It is her identity,” she said.

Mesa Police Detective Jesse Macias confirms that children are often overlooked victims of identity theft, and that makes them easy targets.

“I think that’s probably a huge reason that they’re targeted. Because they’re just unsuspected,” he said.

According to the research firm Javelin, nearly 1.25 million children in the U.S. fall victim to identity theft each year.

Macias urges parents to be vigilant, especially when it comes to sharing personal details online.

“Social media is a huge thing. Facebook in particular. The celebration of a birthday on a specific day can lead somebody to a birth date, and that personal information can lead to identity theft,” Macias said.

Jessica was fortunate. ALTCS requires applicants to have less than $2,000 in assets to qualify for benefits, which led to the discovery of the stolen identity before more money could be collected.

“It’s definitely a fear. Special needs or not. It’s a fear that every parent should have,” the mother said.