If your birth certificate is stolen, you must report the loss to local law enforcement, a Vital Records Office in your birth state, and the Federal Trade Commission. To prevent fraud, freeze your credit and check your accounts for suspicious activity. Once you’ve taken these steps, apply for a new official document.
Your birth certificate is arguably the most important document you can own. Losing your birth certificate is not only a huge inconvenience, it puts your identity and personal information at risk.
If your birth certificate has been stolen, you need to report the issue as soon as possible. Even if the document may have just been misplaced, it is wise to still report its disappearance.
Keep reading to understand the perils of a stolen birth certificate and what to do if this happens to you.
How To Report Stolen Birth Certificate
For maximum security precautions, it is recommended that you report your stolen birth certificate to the following three associations:
- Your Local Police Station: The first step is to file a police report at your local law enforcement office. You can call this office or visit its physical location. By filing a police report, you are officially documenting the loss. This way, if a fraud attempt is made, there is documented proof of your efforts to prevent it.
- A Vital Records Office: This office must be located in your birth state. You can either call or visit a physical location. When you report the loss of your birth certificate to this office, your file will be flagged. The flagging prevents potential fraudsters from gaining more information about you via your birth certificate.
- The Identity Theft Government Website: The site identitytheft.gov is a government-funded website that provides free services for victims of fraud/identity theft. There is no physical office for these services.
Before you do anything else, you need to report the theft of your birth certificate.
You need to do this because if you fail to report the issue, identity thieves and fraudsters can very easily steal and use your information.
Once you have filed reports, you should then apply for a new copy of your birth certificate.
How To Obtain A New Copy Of Your Birth Certificate
Replacement birth certificates can usually be obtained online or in Vital Records Offices.
Procedures for obtaining a copy of your birth certificate can vary, depending on where you were born.
If you were born in the United States, then you must contact the Vital Records Office of your birth state. It does not matter where you live now.
So, for example, if you were born in New York, you’ll need to contact New York’s Vital Records Office.
Be aware that obtaining a copy requires proof of identity and processing fees.
If you are a child of American parents traveling abroad during your birth, you will need to contact the U.S. Department of State to replace your birth certificate.
When contacting the U.S. Dept. of State, you will request a “Consular Report of Birth Abroad form” (FS-240). If they cannot locate it, you will need to contact your birth hospital directly.
If you were born abroad and adopted by United States citizens, you will need to contact the nearest foreign embassy of your birth country to get a replacement birth certificate.
You will also need to show proof of naturalization/citizenship. For further assistance, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
What Can Someone Do With A Stolen Birth Certificate?
Birth certificates can be used to obtain other forms of identification, such as driver’s licenses, social security cards, and even passports.
A birth certificates’ lack of photo identification makes identity theft relatively easy for fraudsters.
If the thief of your birth certificate resembles you in race and age, then they can become you in the eyes of society and the law.
This means that they can steal your money, abuse your credit, be charged with crimes in your name, etc.
One of the most common motives for identity theft is credit fraud. It is extremely important to freeze your credit lines as soon as you realize your birth certificate has been stolen.
Thieves can, and will, easily run up your credit cards, leaving you with massive debt and an unrecoverable credit score.
Your identity is very valuable.
There is an underground market for stolen identities, which helps criminals to travel and migrate illegally, evade law enforcement, steal government benefits and pensions, and commit tax fraud.
Is It Safe To Get Your Birth Certificate Online?
There are several government-authorized services that can safely order certified vital records online.
The best way to identify safe record distributors is to call the Vital Records Office of your state and ask which site is best to use.
Your state’s Vital Records Office usually has an official site that lists secure methods for online replacement.
Some areas in the United States, such as the District of Columbia, do not allow birth certificates to be obtained online.
Despite this, there are dozens of third-party, non-governmental websites that claim to be able to do so (for a fee). However, these sites are potential scams.
Scammers are abundant on the internet, but a scam can be prevented with common sense and looking for red flags.
Possible red flags of a fraudulent vital document distributor are:
- Non-“.gov” URLs
- Abnormally fast processing times
- Abnormally low or high rates
- Poor, or no reviews online
One of the safest and most popular websites used to receive replacement documents is VitalChek.
While this site has proven to be trustworthy, really the safest bet is to consult your state’s Vital Records Office on how to proceed.
How Can I Keep My Birth Certificate Safe?
To keep your birth certificate and other vital documents safe, it is important to file them in a secure location.
Don’t keep them under your mattress, in your car, or laying out in the open. They instead need to be filed and locked away in a discreet place.
It is advised not to keep all of your vital documents in one place. If you do, it will be easier for thieves to capture all of your information in one fell swoop.
One option is to buy two or more lockboxes/safes to keep your documents separated, hidden, and secure. You need to be sure that only you or those you trust know the location.
Another, more popular option is to keep your vital documents in a safe deposit box at a bank or credit union.
If you decide to do this, be sure to make copies of your documents so that you can easily refer to them at home.
Thieves do not pose the only threat to your birth certificate. Natural disasters and house fires can also (obviously) destroy birth certificates.
To prevent this, make sure you are storing your birth certificate in a fire-proof and waterproof safe.
If you live in an area that is frequently affected by flooding, consider keeping them in a safety deposit box instead.
Conclusion
Taking good care of your birth certificate is extremely important.
But, if it has been lost or stolen, it is not the end of the world. If you act quickly, you can protect your identity and replace your birth certificate without an issue.
If you experience theft of your birth certificate, remember to report the loss, freeze your credit lines, and continually monitor your accounts for fraudulence.
The best approach is to do whatever it takes to remain secure!
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