Identity Theft And your Social Security Number
Identity thieves will advance on a Social Security number with the intensity of sharks smelling blood in the water. This is because a Social Security number is the magic key that allows a thief to not only open new lines of credit but gain other crucial information as well. Once a thief has a Social Security number he or she can then get the victim’s credit report that details their address and phone number. Once put together, a thief can live a large part of their life on the dime of another person. The worst part is the victim may never even find out until months or years later. This is especially true if the individual is someone who does not check his or her credit report on a regular basis.
The Social Security card was not even in existence in the United States until the mid 1930’s. Its original intent was for monitoring individual accounts in the newly implemented Social Security program. Later, it became a means for cataloguing information having to do with everything from medical records to military service. These days, a Social Security number must be provided in order to obtain lawful employment, loans, medical insurance and passports and visas. It is also required to file taxes. With a Social Security number, a thief can gain access to all these things and leave a trail of destruction behind them at the expense of their victim.
Social Security numbers and identity theft are of particular concern in the issue of illegal immigration. A vast number of stolen Social Security numbers go to individuals trying to enter the United States illegally to gain employment and other benefits. The relinquishment of benefits gained fraudulently by identity thieves costs legitimate taxpayers millions per annum. In recent years, the use of stolen Social Security numbers by those living in the U.S. with ties to terrorism has spurred extra attention to the issue. It is clear that Social Security numbers used in identity theft can have devastating affects on many different levels.
According to the Social Security Administration, once an individual has had his or her Social Security number stolen, obtaining a new number is unlikely to solve the problem. In fact, it is not even recommended as a course of action since few victims of identity theft are ever granted new ones. This is because the old information does not disappear and an individual’s name, address and other information will still be attached to their old Social Security number. Creditors, government agencies and financial institutions will still be able to look at a victim’s old information in addition to information attached to a new number.
In circumstances where there is a long, extensive history of damage that continues to persist despite a victim’s best efforts to stop it or if there is an element of serious crime on international levels, a victim can be granted a new Social Security number. One will need to visit their local Social Security office and bring extensive proof of their need for a new number. This includes the initial police report and any documentation from banks or other institutions detailing the damage.
January 14th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
SOMEONE SENT ME A MSG AND ITS A THREAT SAYING THIS ISWHAT’S INSTORE FOR U AND ITS MY NAME ID# SS# DOB ADD EVERYTHING!!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO? PLEASE HELP
August 21st, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Social Security Number is the backbone for identity, one should be very careful of ones SSN as your credit information is depends on SSN too.