Social Security Number of Girl, 6, Used to Open Utilities

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI – A 6-year-old Bloomfield Township girl didn’t open utility accounts at various addresses in Detroit.

But her Social Security number was used, police said after taking a report from the girl’s father.

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Identity theft can be especially problematic when children’s Social Security numbers are stolen because they may not become aware of it until they apply for driver’s licenses or credit cards.

The matter has been turned over to the police department’s Investigations Division for follow-up.

Michigan is one of 19 states that require credit reporting agencies to allow a parent or guardian to freeze a child’s credit file, which helps prevent identity theft, according to The New York Times.

It’s unclear how the child’s Social Security number was stolen, but those of as many as 80 million people, including children, were exposed in a huge health insurance giant Anthem’s huge data breach this spring.