Help, someone stole my SS number

7/24/02

[knak]

Someone stole my social security number and is using it. What do I do. I found out by mistake. A company I had a credit card through a few years ago, mistakenly sent me something and when I gave them my SS number to look up my (closed) account they said I was someone else and have a current credit card with them. Anyway, they patched me through to the fraud division and told me to contact credit reporting agencies and put a fraud alert on my SS number so they'l call me before issuing credit to anyone with that number. Isn't there anything else I can do? I'm ticked! They gave me the name and city of the person using my number. Can't I have her prosecuted? And where the heck is Lamark, Tx? That's where she lives. Anyone ever had this problem?

[subterfuge]

Uh-oh bump.

[Glenn]

Bummer, bump.

[Junior]

...Lamark, Tx?

Lamarque, Texas, is next to Texas City and near Galveston. I have relatives there ...

[My Favorite Headache]

It could be a numerical screw up not necessarily fraud. Could be one number off on someone's side. Just be sure. But good luck otherwise.

[Uncle George]

They'll never get mine. It's been tatooed on my shoulder for 60 years.

[isthisnickcool]

That would be LaMarque Texas.

[TomGuy]

The other person may have just picked numbers at random rather than give a real SS number for some application or something.

You should contact the Social Security Administration, however. She may be one of those illegals using false ID's and SSN's.

[knak]

Thanks for the correct spelling! I tried two different spellings in yahoo maps and neither one worked.

[martin_fierro]

whack here

[DoctorMichael]

...............Lamark, Tx?

Any Freepers near Lamark?

Posse?

Send da 'boys' ova to break her tums?

[knak]

The fraud division told me that she could've come into this country and bought a social security number. I laughed (disbelieving) and said "bought one"? "Does'nt she know she "bought one". They told me it happens all the time. First they said everyday then changed it to "well, not every day".

I will contact the SS Administration though. thanks!

[aculeus]

They'll never get mine. It's been tatooed on my shoulder for 60 years.

Ya beat me to it, Uncle G!

[Slyfox]

Go to switchboard.com and put in LaMarque TX and her last name. You can then go to mapquest and get a map of her street.

[evolved_rage]

order a credit report.

[mdittmar]

Social Security Administration

When Someone Misuses Your Number

[knak]

Thanks, everybody. What really stinks is that she got a "Capitol One K-Mart Card" with my credit. She could'nt have had better taste?

[CIBvet]

Now I suppose you're gonna try to tell us you're NOT responsible for making regular contributions on your Lamark, TX credit card to Lulac, La Raza and Rep Sheila Jackson Lee.

[Tall_Texan]

Most credit reporting agencies work by SSN (I know, it's supposed to be illegal...) and I would have a credit report done on your own number ASAP. The major credit reporting groups (Equifax is one of them) would tell you what credit lines have been open under that number and any aliases (particularly useful with women who tend to change their surnames frequently) that might be connected with it.

If it indicates a name or names other than your own and accounts you are aware of, try to find out more on your own. If it appears there is some actual fraud, the next thing to do is to take it up with the authorities but only when you've got a case built.

I would not try to contact the individual as this a) might make you look like a stalker or a threat and b) gives them notice that you are onto them if this really is a fraud going on.

The sad but true story is that credit reporting agencies are littered with bad information that attaches to your own credit history like a virus and you have to really fight to get things removed that were either cleared up by you years ago but stayed on your record or has nothing to do with you at all but happened to somebody whose name or SSN was close to yours.

There's just as good a chance of a clerical error or a computer glitch, particularly if your name is rather common. But you don't want someone else's bad credit to hurt your good credit (assuming its good) because of a name/address/SSN mixup. Do some homework.

If you can afford it, consult an attorney.

[Vidalia]

If it is real identity theft, you might consider hiring someone to drown the beetch.

There shouldn't be a serious court case, since, if you "killed yourself" it will be considered a suicide.

But beware, you may have to pay a fine.

poste script: this is tongue in cheek, just in case...

[tall_tex]

I have been through somthing close in the last two years. My lady went to our local grocery store and her check was refused. We found out that some one 200 miles away from us used Shirley's Texas drivers license number and bounced serveral checks. We had a hold put on us to write any checks, that used their check reporting service. We investigated and found out that the checks that were written were on a bank that we did not even bank with. My lady went to that bank and finally got it taken care of. Then, a few months later we got a statement from the Social Security Admin on her benifits when she retires, and low and behold some one had changed her middle name on her SS account. Months to get that corrected. Then, low and behold checking account gets rejected again, same area as before, she bounced checks. Mansfield Texas was the perp on our problems. When we finally do get things corrected they all admit that we are not the problem, they know that we do not bounce checks for $22.87. I am in Austin, Tx, I do not know wher your perp is. I will check tomorrow when I get to the office. It is very frustrating. First thing is to go to SS, I think I have heard or read some place that they must give you a new SS Number. Call of your credit card companies, make them aware, keep notes of your conversations, get E mail addresses so you can confirm your conversations with them.. It is very frustrating, can be time consuming. I can not wait till we all get a national ID number so that we can combat terror, no one can get access to our SS #, I am sure that they will not be able to get access to our new national ID number. Ha.. Tom (Sorry guys for the lack of paragraph's, when you are on a "Rant", RANT.

[tall_tex]

How lucky our feller Freeper is to have both tall_texan and tall_tex respond with such intelligent coments to her post. Hoo-ahh

[RJayneJ]

It happened to me and it has been about 2 years getting all of the bad accounts off of my credit record. I am now down to 1 hold out which I turned over to my attorney. Instead of being afraid seomeone will take you to court, go on the offensive and tell them if they harrass you any longer you will take them to court so they had better have your signature on something. That finally got me the results that I wanted.

[Utopia]

I hope its not fraud, but a simply a screw-up. Many years ago, I had to go on disability. I submitted my forms. I waited. I got back: "Sorry. You're denied benefits, that SS number is in use." I found out it belong to a hispanic gent (well, a gent with a Hispanic name). After more months of trying to get to the bottom of it, (I was able to get copies of my processed and rejected paperwork) I discovered that when I submitted my application, an office worker stamped right on top of the SS number. The stamp totally obscured the number "3". Instead of calling me to ask me what the number was, they assumed it was an "8", so they went ahead with the application. Of course that SS number with an "8" more than likely did belong to a gent with a Hispanic name, for it certainly wasn't mine.

And here I am, flat on my back, waiting ... all because of a stupid office blunder.

I hope its something like that for you and not identity theft.

[Bella_Bru]

Equifax pisses me off. I have called them repeatedly over the past few years to change info that is incorrect, yet they never do. They have my last employer wrong, my last address listed was one I lived at 6 years ago, etc. There are also errors on my credit, but they keep telling me they'll change it. They don't.

[tall_tex]

In Nevada, they used to use your SSN for your DL number, do not know if it changed or not. Maybe Willie Green can confirm. Tom

[El Sordo]

From what I've heard about trying to prosecute this kind of case, a person would be better served by finding the culprit and...ahem...having a talk with them...

[reg45]

Since the credit card bills, etc. were sent through the mail, contact the United States Postal Service - Postal Inspectors. Also, continue your work through the Social Security Administration.

[tall_tex]

Our SS# also became our Army Serial Number, I still remember my enlisted Serial Number, as well as my officer Serial Number. I even know my Social Security Number, which is now also on my "Dog Tags". Shuss, do not tell anybody that number it is confidential and not a federal ID number. Hoo-Ya

[adaven]

Yes, Nevada used to use your SSN for the DL number. They changed their system a few years ago to keep your SSN "private". However, there is an algorithm that you can apply to the new numbering system, and out comes your SSN! There was even a web page that had a javascript app that would decode your new "private" number into your SSN.

[tall_tex]

You sound very knowledgable. While your answer is spookey. Reminds me of the 50's when I was in grade scool. Duck and Cover. How about the SSN as our military serial number. It does make me worry that during the 8 years that I lived in Nevada that my SSN is a record. Of course, terrorists, illegals, do not have access to those numbers. I just hope that they make a ton of money, and pay a ton of SS donations into my account so that my retirement money per month continues to grow and grow. Maybe I should go down to Brownsville, Tx and pass out my number to all the Illegals comming accross the border. The money that they will make and be reported to the IRS, could help increase my SS retirement. Hummmm... Thanks for responding to my post. Hoo-ahh

[tall_tex]

The first three words of english that illegals from Mexico learn are "Attention Kmart Shoppers". No wonder that they are in bankrupsy. Tom

[jumpstartme]

You might also consider hiring a PI to look into your SSI account to make sure that no other instances of misuse have occured without your knowing it.

It happened to me a few years back. Turned out that some kid whose number was a few digits off had his number posted wrong by a hospital and then it went all over the place, along with his medical records.

It was a mess to straighten out. The credit bureaus are absolutely no help. You'll need to make it legal.

[maxwell]

They'll never get mine. It's been tatooed on my shoulder for 60 years.

BWAHAHA!

[Madame de Winter]

I remember when when I was young, my mother, who has since passed away, worried about having to get me a SS number. She worrried it was like in Revelations: we will all be numbered.

Well, today it might be a chip but most likely the number of the beast is an IP address.

[subterfuge]

LOL! Good one!

[sonserae]

For any of you who carry your SS card in your wallet or purse, take it out and put it in a safe place. If someone steals your wallet or purse, they have your driver's license AND SS # and with both of those, they can do a lot of damage. It's best not to carry your SS# anywhere on you.

[RnMomof7]

And where the heck is Lamark, Tx?

I will bet a place that has an illegal Mexican using your SS #

Did you call SS ?

[nanny]

Don't bet on it. Most of them only use it to get the job and pay no taxes as they work as 'contract' laborers. If they do, they will probably retire before you and get your earnings!!!!!!!!

Seriously, everyone should check their SS# to be sure no one is using it. A women in the Rio Grande valley was using my daughter-in-laws number and was receiving WIC food on it. The numbers they are using have to come from somewhere. I have heard of the SS# of dead people being used - but I think those numbers are bound to be 'used up' by now, considering the numbers of illegals here.

[eastforker]

Don't feel bad,one of our credit card banks called us this evening inquiring if we had authorized two billings,one for five $ and change and another for nine and change from an overseas account.We told them we had not and they immediatly canceled our cards and are reissuing them.They told us these type of crooks maybe do hundreds at a time for just a few $ to keep from being detected and hope they will slide by but these two billings came from a recognized fraud ring so they notified us.

[varon]

There shouldn't be a serious court case, since, if you "killed yourself" it will be considered a suicide.

ROFLMAO :-)

[Brytani]

Yes, but in our case we knew who was doing it personally. First step is to contact your known creditors and let them know someone has your SS number and is using it. Request that they place a block on your accounts (especially credit cards) where proper ID is needed before they can be charged too or used.

Second, pull copies of your credit reports from all three major credit reporting agencies and go over them with a fine tooth comb. If anything looks supicious immediately contact the credit reporting agencies that are reporting it and let them know you are:
1. Disputing the entry.
2. Fraud has occured and you need contact information for the reporting company.
3. That you are willing to press charges against the person(s) who have done this.

Third, call your banks and make sure your accounts are secure. Everyone of them, including that savings account you opened up 10 years ago and forgot about (everyone has done that at one time or another)

Fourth contact every creditor that you believe fraud has occured and request their fraud division to investigate the accounts and take appropriate action.

And finally, contact your local police and report the theft of your identity (SS Number) and provide them with all information on accounts opened in your name illegally - along with the information on the person who opened them.

It's a long, hard process and I wish you the best in it.

[jigsaw]

What really stinks is that she got a "Capitol One K-Mart Card" with my credit. She could'nt have had better taste?

By chance, is the perp's name Martha Stewart?

[razorback-bert]

Good luck, I am still dealing with this.

Check with the IRS to make sure the taxes are paid, this is how I first found out someone else was me. The IRS came after me for unpaid 1099 taxes.

Thought I had it cleared up and then earlier this year, I was thinking of buying a SUV and found out I already a bought a new pick-up and house.

A note of encouragement this has been going on for fifteen years.

[knak]

I called SS, they weren't much help. They did tell me every couple of years that people should order the form from them that shows all wages that have been reported to your SS number.

[nicmarlo]

You should contact the Social Security Administration

Yep, right away.

[unixfox]

I called SS, they weren't much help.

No way...you're kidding right?