[Joan.of.the.Arch]

The pessimist in me thinks that most often it is probably the parents themselves who have used the child's identity illicitly. I say this because I know someone who had two children 21 years apart and after ruining her own economic reputation she then started her children out with a "bad name." She failed to pay her own bills and could not get phone, electric, or gas service. So she got services in her 3 year old daughter's name. Years later, she got services in her 2 year old son's name. She does not share a last name with either child, so they appear to be new customers. Then she still left the new bills unpaid. I presume she faked their signatures and whatever else was needed. The daughter moved out when she turned 18 and I presume she found she already had a bad credit record even though she had never truly had any credt. Son is only 6, so still at home. He'll find out some years from now.