Foster Children Identity Theft

“Texas foster children are the latest targets of identity theft.

Brandon and Shanna Wheeler, a San Antonio couple who have adopted eight foster children, said the scam most often happens around tax time.

“Every time we go to file, we get a letter back from the IRS saying somebody’s already claimed them,” Shanna Wheeler said.

According to IDT 911, a company that specializes in helping consumers avoid becoming victims of identity theft, most often the offender is a former foster parent or guardian.

“Some of our kids have lived in seven different foster homes before they came here, different shelters, and all the staff members and different people who have had access to their numbers,” Brandon Wheeler said. “For this to be just one more thing we have to worry about is ridiculous.”

So many foster kids have been targeted nationwide that Congress passed a bill in 2011 that helps protect children with free credit checks before they age out of the system.

It’s a never-ending nightmare for the Wheelers, who have a word of advice for parents who adopt foster children.

“Try to get the Social Security number changed at the time of adoption so they’ve got a fresh, clean start,” Shanna Wheeler said.

The Wheelers said while they report every incident to the IRS, Medicaid office and Child Protective Services, they’ve have never found out who tried to scam their children. ”

Identity thieves prey on foster children[KSAT 11/10/14 by Courtney Friedman]

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