Social Security Fraud

Social security numbers are often used as the impetus for identity theft.

Many unknowing victims find their social security number is abused whether or not they give it out willingly. For example, one senior citizen found that the local transit agency she used every day had put her social security number on her bus pass. The driver was found to be writing down customers Social Security numbers in a little notebook for his use later.

Some companies still use social security numbers as employee ID numbers. One employee who worked as a sales agent for a long distance company complained because he noticed his SSN had been printed on the paperwork customers were receiving.

Many financial institutions use Social Security numbers as online or offline forms of identity. Sometimes it is used as your id name and other times as your password. They also may be printing it on your statements.

Many insurance companies use Social Security numbers on the health cards they provide. This makes Social Security fraud very easy. If your Social Security number is on your insurance card, call the insurance company and demand they change this practice.

Have you ever provided your Social Security number to a company, organization or individual? If so, you may have already been targeted by an identity thief! Even providing just the last 4 digits of your number can lead to Social Security ID fraud.

Several cases have been reported to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Hotline where victims found their privacy accidentally invaded, opening the door for identity theft to occur:

• An ex-husband accessed his ex-wife’s credit report using her SSN five times within a two-month time frame to track her new address and place of employment. She contacted the police, the FTC and the FBI. The FBI claimed that he needed to abuse the information before they could do anything. The FTC claimed they would investigate a company but not an individual. The police claimed it wasn’t identity theft even though the access was abusive and potentially damaging.

• A loan manager called a client’s home because her account was delinquent. He revealed the woman’s personal information including banking information to a friend that happened to answer the woman’s the phone. That friend could have easily used that information to steal the woman’s identity.

• A young adult found his identity had been stolen by an employee in his apartment complex office. The employee had taken information from his file, obtained a credit card and immediately began making charges. Even though the identity theft victim discovered the crime early, he still spent many, many hours trying to find the right people to help clear up his credit, drivers license, social security number, insurance, and banking information. Would you know who to call about each of these?

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