When we think of identity theft, we usually picture a criminal stealing someone’s name and credit card number to go on a wild shopping spree. You check your bank statement, notice the strange charges, and alert your bank right away. It’s messy, but the trail is obvious.

But there is a much quieter, invisible type of fraud spreading rapidly across the country. Instead of stealing your whole identity, scammers are stealing just one piece of your personal information and mixing it with fake data to build a brand-new, artificial identity from scratch.

Because these fake identities are patched together from different pieces, security experts call them “synthetic” or “Frankenstein” identities—and they are incredibly difficult to spot until the damage is already done.

Here is how this clever trick works, and the simple steps you can take to protect your family’s credit.

How the bad guys build a “Frankenstein” identity

Think of your identity like a jigsaw puzzle made of three main pieces: your name, your date of birth, and your Social Security number.

In a traditional identity theft scam, a thief steals your entire completed puzzle. But in a synthetic scam, the criminal only takes your Social Security number. They leave your name and birthday behind.

Then, they go to work building a fake person:

1. They take your real Social Security number.
2. They invent a completely fake name (like “John Smith”).
3. They invent a completely fake birthday and mailing address.

When they mix your real number with this fake information, they create a brand-new “person” that doesn’t actually exist in the real world.

The long game: why scammers do this

The reason this scam is so dangerous is that the criminals don’t use this fake identity to break into your current bank accounts. If they did, your bank would flag it.

Instead, they use the fake identity to apply for a brand-new credit card.

The first time they apply, the bank’s computer gets confused because the name and the Social Security number don’t match. The bank rejects the application. But uniquely, the act of applying creates a brand-new, blank credit file in their system for this fake person.

Now that the fake person has a official file, the scammer plays the long game:

• They open small, low-limit accounts to build up good credit.
• They pay the bills on time for months, or even years, making the fake person look like a model citizen.
• Once the fake person’s credit score is excellent, the scammer applies for massive loans, buying expensive cars or draining large lines of cash.

Suddenly, the scammer vanishes with the money. The banks go looking for “John Smith,” only to find out he doesn’t exist. Meanwhile, your real Social Security number is left holding the bag for thousands of dollars in unpaid debt.

Why children and clean credit files are targets

Scammers love to use Social Security numbers that belong to people who aren’t actively using credit. Children, people who haven’t opened a new credit account in decades, or those who rarely check their credit reports are prime targets. Because no one is monitoring those specific numbers, a scammer can operate their fake person in the dark for years without anyone noticing.

2 Simple steps to protect your family

You don’t need to monitor the internet 24/7 to stop this. You just need to lock the door to your credit file so no one can create a fake account with your information.

1. Freeze Your Credit (and Your Children’s Credit). The absolute best defense against a Frankenstein identity is a credit freeze. It is completely free and takes about 15 minutes to set up online with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
2. Check Your Credit Reports for “Ghost” Accounts. Once a year, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com. When you look at it, you aren’t just looking for strange charges—you are looking for a “ghost” file. If you see a different name, an unfamiliar address, or an employer you’ve never worked for attached to your Social Security number, it’s a major red flag that a synthetic identity has been built using your information.

What is a credit freeze?

A credit freeze completely locks your Social Security number. If a scammer tries to apply for a card using your number, the bank’s computer will instantly block the application because the file is frozen.

If you ever need to buy a car or open a legitimate account, you can unfreeze it instantly with a secure PIN you create, then lock it right back up.

How iDefend can help

Scammers count on you only looking for traditional identity theft. By freezing your credit files and protecting your family’s Social Security numbers, you make it impossible for criminals to use your data as a building block for their financial crimes.

Our Identity and Financial Protection services cover everything here, and even give you a convenient interface to initiate a credit freeze (without calling the bureau in most cases). We’ll also answer any questions you have about ID theft and make sure your personal information is being monitored and protected, 24/7.