An 11-Year-Old With Bad Credit? Mother Fights for Son's Identity

April 1, 2009— -- Getting a bank account in his name was supposed to have been yet another milestone in 11-year-old Jake LeGette's life. But someone beat him to it -- using his Social Security number.

"We went to the bank to open up a savings account," his mother, Lori LeGette, told ABCNews.com, "and the customer service rep at the bank questioned his Social [Security number]."

Turns out the fifth-grader's identity had been stolen years ago and a yet-unidentified woman had used his Social Security number to buy a house, numerous cars -- even a bank account at the same bank where Jake's parents took him to deposit the $500 he'd saved from mowing lawns, allowances and birthday gifts.

Now the Florida mom, also a Miami-area police officer, is trying to clear her son's credit report and figure out how this woman got his Social Security number in the first place.

"I'm doing everything legally I'm allowed to do as a parent," she said, adding that she's also filed a police report in Coconut Creek, Fla., where the family lives.

LeGette said at first the family thought there had been a typographical error that had caused Jake's credit report to look so active. But then when they got the list of items the woman had applied for, they realized their middle child was a victim of identity theft.

The mystery woman's purchases and applications have all been made in Florida, though from a different part of the state than where the LeGettes live.

And because they don't yet have full access from the credit agencies, they don't know whether she has defaulted on any of her accounts.

"But when you buy nine vehicles over a four-year period of time, you have to think there's something really involved, fraudulently," LeGette said.

LeGette said her training in law enforcement hasn't been much help in protecting or restoring her child's identity.

"I feel like there's some major flaw in the system" for protecting children's identities, she said, adding that she plans to freeze Jake's Social Security number once this mess has been fixed.

Though her eldest child is older than 18, LeGette said she plans to do a thorough check of her youngest child's information just to be safe.

But the question remains: How was someone able to steal Jake's identity?

"When this happens to your child it's really hitting where it hurts you," she said.