# Someone using my Social Security Number? Identity Fraud?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 16, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308 "2004-04-16T03:38:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/1 "2004-04-16T03:38:19Z")
I put in an application for a new apartment the other day, and the leasing agent lady ran a credit check on me. She informed me that two other names are associated with my SSN, Clemenia Martinez and Clemencia Morales. I have no idea who this person is, or what’s going on - but I’m _quite_ freaked out because she told me that 99% of the time, this is identity theft. Checking out my report, there is nothing on there, credit cards, loans, or otherwise, that I don’t recognize. My credit is great. The part of the report I’m concerned about looks like this: Names Associated with Applicant’s Social Security Number: Name-------------------------Times Seen Clemencia Morales----------29 My name---------------------10 Clemencia Martinez---------9 So, my questions: How would this person be using my SSN in a way that wouldn’t show up on my credit report? Employment, maybe? How do I find this out? Also… What does “Times Seen” mean? The leasing agent lady told me that this is probably the number of times they’ve used my SSN. _I’ve_ only “used” it 10 times? What could _they_ be using it that much for? I’ve been to several websites related to identity fraud, but they don’t seem to be of much help to me, since I don’t even know if that’s the situation I’m in. I was told I should file a police report, so I did that. I have also called the major credit bureaus and put a flag on my credit, whatever that means. I should be getting a complete credit report from them sometime within the next week. But should I really be concerned if this person isn’t messing with my credit? Could it be some sort of mistake? Thanks! Logan. ---
**Author:** ![Yuki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@Yuki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yuki)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/2 "2004-04-16T04:32:59Z")
I used to pull credit reports for apartment rentals and I saw this all the time. Whenever you see a hispanic name on your credit report, chances are that they’re illegal and they ‘bought’ your number off some guy on a street corner. What happens is they use that number wherever a SSN is needed outside of getting credit. Normally for getting jobs, renting an apartment, etc. The two names are probably the same person as well. With hispanic names, it’s often hard to tell which is the middle name and which is the last name, so people entering the information when pulling a report often switch them around. I’m not 100% positive but I believe the numbers next to the name are the number of times a credit report has been pulled using that name in association with that SSN. Your best bet is to contact the credit bureau that’s reporting this information (Equifax, Experian and/or Transunion) and inform them that those names are NOT you and you’d like them removed. They’ll do so and you just need to keep pulling your credit every 6 months for a year or two to make sure nothing else fishy pops up. ---
**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/3 "2004-04-16T08:07:51Z")
I agree that it’s probably an illegal using your SS#. I don’t know if the INS would get involved, but I’d call them too, as well as the SS administration. Better still, go here: [http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html](http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html) and get the “straight dope” on what to do. ---
**Author:** ![Lithium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lithium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lithium)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/4 "2004-04-16T08:24:06Z")
Mexicans… ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/5 "2004-04-16T09:37:14Z")
Putting aside the Pit-type rants I’m internalizing against an elemental poster…I would also suggest requesting that the credit bureaus notify you before releasing your information for a credit check. This will cause you some delays should you apply for a loan or whatever but it will serve to notify you should someone attempt to use your SSN for credit purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/6 "2004-04-16T13:05:51Z")
Having your SSN associated with someone 'Hispanic": Some non-US citizens get tax I.D. numbers and they use those numbers just like SSNs, even though they are not SSNs. No one should accept them as SSNs, but they read in the same format. They should not be dumped into fileds reserved for SSN by creditors, banks, etc. Only for tax purposes should these be used. Sometimes, the tax ID issued to foreign workers match SSNs. Confusion pops up later when an SSN trace is done. It is common for your SSN to be associated with other people, and this tax i.d. thing is just one reason. Could it be fraud? Sure, but the leap to declare that Mexicans are selling these on the street corner should be substantiated case by case. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/7 "2004-04-16T14:05:09Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Having your SSN associated with someone 'Hispanic": > > Some non-US citizens get tax I.D. numbers and they use those numbers just like SSNs, even though they are not SSNs. No one should accept them as SSNs, but they read in the same format. They should not be dumped into fileds reserved for SSN by creditors, banks, etc. Only for tax purposes should these be used. Nice bid for understanding, Philster, and I wish it held water, I really do. But an Indivisual Tax Identification Number always starts with a 9, and SSNs only start as high as 7 [From the IRS:](http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html) > [@](#): > > What is an ITIN? > An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. It is a nine-digit number that always begins with the number 9 and has a 7 or 8 in the fourth digit, example 9XX-7X-XXXX. > IRS issues ITINs to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA). > ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status because both resident and nonresident aliens may have U.S. tax return and payment responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code. > Individuals must have a filing requirement and file a valid federal income tax return to receive an ITIN, unless they meet an exception. [From the SSA:](http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=j9D-x*8h&p_lva=&p_faqid=87&p_created=955483216&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9ncmlkc29ydD0mcF9yb3dfY250PTYyJnBfY2F0X2x2bDE9MTYmcF9jYXRfbHZsMj1_YW55fiZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=) > [@](#): > > Question > Is there any significance to the numbers assigned in the Social Security Number? > > Answer > The digits in the Social Security number allow for the orderly assignment of numbers. The number is divided into three parts: the area, group and serial numbers. The first three (3) digits (area) of a person’s social security number are determined by the ZIP Code of the mailing address shown on the application for a social security number. See [http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/stateweb.html](http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/stateweb.html) for more information. > > Within each area, the group number (middle two (2) digits) range from 01 to 99 but are not assigned in consecutive order. For administrative reasons, group numbers issued first consist of the ODD numbers from 01 through 09 and then EVEN numbers from 10 through 98, within each area number allocated to a State. After all numbers in group 98 of a particular area have been issued, the EVEN Groups 02 through 08 are used, followed by ODD Groups 11 through 99. > > Within each group, the serial numbers (last four (4) digits) run consecutively from 0001 through 9999. > > Further information about Social Security Numbers that are currently assigned is available on SSA’s website at [http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/highgroup.htm](http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/highgroup.htm) Click on the last link, and you will see that SSN’s are not being issued starting with 9. On the other hand, I could go to downtown Los Angeles _today_, look for the guy pantomiming flashing a card, and in a very short period of time have an official looking SS card with 9 more or less random digits on it. If the SSA has already assigned them to someone else, too damn bad for them. So **LoganDear** , while it’s certainly not impossible that someone at your local SSA office loused up severely and issued the same number to you and two other people, the greater likelihood is that at least two people have bought your number on the street. [Here](http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=j9D-x*8h&p_lva=&p_faqid=77&p_created=955479178&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9ncmlkc29ydD0mcF9yb3dfY250PTYyJnBfY2F0X2x2bDE9MTYmcF9jYXRfbHZsMj1_YW55fiZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=) is the answer from the SSA on how to proceed. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/8 "2004-04-16T15:23:35Z")
Let me elaborate a bit. Good info, from **scotandrsn** It’s not ‘pure identity theft’, which involves using your name and other i.d to secure credit in your name (thereby deflecting responsibility to you). I work at a credit bureau, and we see alot of tax i.ds getting passed on as SSNs, and creditors take them. Yes, duh…creditors are not always a great line of defense. Also, a previous poster claimed that " Whenever you see a hispanic name on your credit report, chances are that they’re illegal and they ‘bought’ your number off some guy on a street corner" That’s a stretch. Oh, it happens, but even though I am not very PC, we should be careful about lumping everyone in together. The SS admin notes that alot of crossed up SSNs are purely by mistake - they consider both possibilities. Stealing identity is getting more sophisticated. Addresses, SSNs and phone numbers are cross checked and along with some other tools, a bogus applicant can be declined credit. Oh, you can steal identity for sure, but having you ssn on another credit report isn’t the classic identity theft. Not all creditors use all the fraud alert tools when screening apps either. ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/9 "2004-04-16T17:59:46Z")
Thanks people, I’m going to send off for an Earnings & Benefit Estimate from the SSA & make sure that info is correct. I’m also trying to get ahold of someone here (a detective, associated with some government organization, can’t remember which one now) who specializes in identity theft, to see if he can help me figure out what’s going on. ☹ Everyone I’ve talked to about this has mentioned the fact that the names are “hispanic.” Really, it might be relevant - "Clemencia could be an illegal immigrant who is using my number to work… Hmm… I apologize for sounding so naive about all this. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/10 "2004-04-16T18:47:30Z")
Identity theft rears it’s ugly head when you get calls from collectors and/or you notice that you have alot of badt debt on your credit report that is not yours. ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/11 "2004-04-17T01:08:16Z")
Another thing, if someone were checking up on my SSN, say an employer or something, wouldn’t they somehow find out that MY name is associated with it? … This whole thing just doesn’t make much sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/12 "2004-04-17T01:56:18Z")
Your potential employer or employer would obtain your credit report and possiblt those with similar names. Having a SSN associated with another name shouldn’t revel that other credit report (in thi case the Hispanic woman). What the apartment leasing agent did was run some sort of skip trace, a basic trace on your SSN (which might have been done in conjunction with the credit report, too). \*\* I am curious: \*\* Did the agent reveal that they had obtained your **credit history**? Many leasing agents don’t bother paying for a full credit report, but rely on simple less costly skip traces to reveal if they should dig deeper. But lenders and employers are going to submit your name, adresses, DOB, and SSN to the credit bureau in an attempt to get your history/score. Based on this info, you credit report will be delivered. Similar names might be returned as well, but the are easily distinguished from yours (with exceptions). The other credit report with the Hispanic name and the SSN that matches yours won’t even be returned to anyone requesting it. ---
**Author:** ![griffin77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@griffin77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin77)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/13 "2004-04-17T02:08:02Z")
Not intirely on-topic but if it does look like you are a victim of ID theft make sure you get a report, and request a security alert, from these guys: [http://www.chexhelp.com/](http://www.chexhelp.com/) All the banks use Chex-Systems, but they seem to go out of their way to make sure the aren’t listed with the other CRAs on places like the FTC ID theft website ([http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/](http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/)). I followed the instruction on the FTC web-site when I got my ID stolen last year, only to discover last week there were still entries in my Chex-Systems report that stopped me from opening a new bank account… ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/14 "2004-04-17T07:12:07Z")
Philster, Hm… Not sure entirely what the difference is between what the leasing agent showed me and my _complete credit history_. But what she showed me has accounts on it that I opened years ago, some of which have never even been used. (I used to be a little more lax about filling out credit card app.s) What she gave me has my credit score listed at the top and accounts that I have opened (and one that has been closed, lost CC) listed underneath it, then underneath that is the box that has names associated with my SSN. > [@Philster](#): > > …Having a SSN associated with another name shouldn’t revel that other credit report (in thi case the Hispanic woman). So… I’m not sure I totally understand what you’re saying. Do you mean that this woman could actually BE messing with my credit, but since our names aren’t the same, the stuff she’s been messing with wouldn’t show up on this report? 😕 Logan. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/15 "2004-04-17T14:30:33Z")
> [@LoganDear](#): > > Philster, > > Hm… Not sure entirely what the difference is between what the leasing agent showed me and my _complete credit history_. But what she showed me has accounts on it that I opened years ago, some of which have never even been used. (I used to be a little more lax about filling out credit card app.s) What she gave me has my credit score listed at the top and accounts that I have opened (and one that has been closed, lost CC) listed underneath it, then underneath that is the box that has names associated with my SSN. > > So… I’m not sure I totally understand what you’re saying. Do you mean that this woman could actually BE messing with my credit, but since our names aren’t the same, the stuff she’s been messing with wouldn’t show up on this report? > > 😕 > > Logan. Sounds like a credit report, **LoganDear**. The point is, when they look up your credit report OR credit history, they don’t simply plug in your SSN and go by what that brings up. The people who program these databases figured out a long time ago that SSN’s make shitty DB indices, and, in any case, there are any number of instances where a simple SSn search will not give you the total picture. They plug in ALL your info, and spit back what they come up with based on that. But that’s the credit bureaus. Other companies MAY simply run on SSN searches of their own records, and if they come up with this other person’s bad actions when deciding to open up a new account for you, it is not inconceivable that you could be rejected because of what they did. IMHO, you are probably not the victim of “classic” identity theft, in which you specifically were targeted to have accounts opened up in your name. It’s more likely that the primitive random name/number generator at some storefront fake-SS-card operation catering to illegal immigrants has twice spit out your SSN with the first name “Clemencia”, which in my experience, is not that common a Latina name. So now, the person who ended up as “Clemencia Morales” has presented your SSN number as hers some 29 times that have been reported to whatever agency(-ies) generated the report you saw. The one who ended up as “Clemencia Martinez” has done so 9 times. ---
**Author:** ![WHEELER](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e79b87/32.png) [@WHEELER](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WHEELER)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/16 "2004-04-17T18:50:45Z")
test ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-using-my-social-security-number-identity-fraud/240308/17 "2004-04-17T20:56:13Z")
If Clemencia is a female name (as I believe), then it’s remotely possible that Clemencia Morales got married and changed her name to Clemencia Martinez (or vice-versa). It’s also conceiveable (if you are male, **LoganDear** ) that when she uses your SSN for various activities, people have simply assumed that you are Clemencia’s husband. A lot of women use their husband’s SSNs more than they use their own; I work in a medical office and I frequently see reports where the wife uses her husband’s SSN to identify herself. Sometimes the wife cannot even _remember_ her own SSN, but knows her husband’s backwards and forwards. This may have kept others from noticing or commenting on the discrepancy.