How did they open a credit card in my friends name?

Question

The worst thing happened, my friend did his annual credit report checkup, and he found someone had opened up an account in his name? How did this happen? This has spurred me to do a report for my school on how this happens so others can prevent it.

We speculate that it could have happened through one of those mailing solicitations to get a new credit card, but we thought that the person had to know your social, something pertinent on your credit history, and mothers maiden name. Are we wrong?

Or could this have happened another way.

It is important to know that the SS card is locked away in a safe in the house, and they are proactive by shredding all mail. what else can you do?

I know there are a lot of questions in here, but in short we want to know

How it happened

How to prevent it

Answer 1

There are many ways someone could have done this - could have been someone he knows or someone who hacked an account.  Your ssn is used to track so much data in so many places that it is difficult to pinpoint one place.

Answer 2

this could have been done in numerous ways from: a parent applying or using your friends info (it happens), someone else in the family that would have access to the information, a solicitation that was mailed out to maybe an old address, a thief who stole the information from off the computer etc. They really only need to fill out a short form to get the application processed including the name, ssn, address, date of birth and income. If someone knows this stuff already or majority of the info the application would go through. I suggest getting a credit freeze where no one will be given access to approve an acct in your friends mane unless they contact you on the number you provide and speak w/ you.