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Yes. The first thing you can do is freeze your credit.

Yes, if someone has stolen your child’s personal information, it’s possible for accounts to be opened in your child’s name. To determine whether this has happened, you can contact the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax) to see if your child has a file.

Whether individuals are hired, promoted, retained or allowed to volunteer often depends on information revealed in a background check. Companies conduct background checks on prospective employees and volunteers for many reasons including

If you consented at any point (this might include providing your number on an account application), a debt collector can do this.

The Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (ICRAA) is a California law that requires

You can take steps to prepare for an employee background check before you apply for a new job. By doing so, you could reduce the chance of being surprised by inaccurate or forgotten information that could show up during the background check process.

At tax time, like most people, you are concerned about the bottom line: Will I get a refund or will I have to pay? Privacy may never enter your mind, but perhaps it should.

Comments Submitted by:
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Joined by:
Consumer Action
National Consumer Law Center
PrivacyActivism
US Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG)
World Privacy Forum