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Rectifying Social Security Identity Theft?
VxSote asks: "A 19 year old kid tried to buy a car only to find out his
SSN had been stolen and used by a terrorist. Now, after talking to various government entities, he is no closer to having his (presumably) good name cleared. So this situation begs the question: how exactly does one go about fixing such a mess?"
Try moving to Canada. Seriously. Once you get on those lists it is almost impossible to get off. The kid is lucky that the government told him he is on the list and not shipped off to Guantanamo already. Most people never know they are on a watch list. I hate to sound pessimistic but this is the truth.
24 beers in a case, 24 hours in a day. Coincidence? I think not!
No, it's the law.
Section 7 of Pub.L. 93-579 provided that:
"(a)(1) It shall be unlawful for any Federal, State or local government agency to deny to any individual any right, benefit, or privilege provided by law because of such individual's refusal to disclose his social security account number.
"(2) the [The] provisions of paragraph (1) f this subsection shall not apply with respect to--
"(A) any disclosure which is required by Federal statute, or
"(B) the disclosure of a social security number to any Federal, State, or local agency maintaining a system of records in existence and operating before January 1, 1975, if such disclosure was required under statute or regulation adopted prior to such date to verify the identity of an individual.
"(b) Any Federal, State, or local government agency which requests an individual to disclose his social security account number shall inform that individual whether that disclosure is mandatory or voluntary, by what statutory or other authority such number is solicited, and what uses will be made of it."
If he plans on financing it, the SSN would be used to obtain a credit report. If he's paying cash, it's enough money to be a "reportable" transaction.
Call (206) 338-5780 COLLECT for information about a genuine BA, BS, MA, MS, MBA, or Ph.D.
As one who works for the Social Security Administration, I can tell you that it is virtually impossible to get a new Social Security Number. While it is theoretically possible, SSA is extremely adamant about making sure people keep their numbers, except under the most extreme and extraordinary of circumstances, and they don't consider most identity theft cases as extraordinary.
All I can tell you is what those who operate the telephone help line for SSA are told to tell the public... contact the three credit bureaus, as there's pretty much nothing we, the government, can/will do.