Did some sleuthing into social security number fraud
Here are some interesting articles about how many people's social security numbers have been duplicated. Warning, you will not be happy with the findings. The first two articles are from 2010 when ID Analytics conducted a major investigation into social security numbers fraud. The last article is a follow up report from ID Analytics about the growth in a three year period in social security numbers fraud:
Odds someone else has your SSN? One in 7: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/odds-someone-else-has-your-ssn-one-7-6C10406347
The IRS often knows when this happens, when the imposter pays taxes. The Social Security Administration knows, too, for the same reason. And the nation's credit bureaus usually know, because the imposter often ends up applying for some form of credit. Plenty of financial institutions also have access to this information.
But no one is telling you. In short, all these government agencies and financial firms don't think you have a right to know.
We're no closer to finding out who's on that list today, but at least we now know how big the problem is: much bigger than we originally estimated.
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20 Million Americans Have Multiple Social Security Numbers Associated With Their Name: http://www.idanalytics.com/blog/press-releases/20-million-americans-multiple-social-security-numbers-associated-name/
SAN DIEGO, CA –More than 20 million Americans have multiple Social Security numbers (SSNs) associated with their name in commercial records according to a new study announced today from ID Analytics, Inc., a leader in consumer risk management. The study also found that rather than serving as a unique identifier, more than 40 million SSNs are associated with multiple people.
ID Analytics conducted the industry’s most comprehensive examination of SSNs using its ID Network®, the nation’s only real-time, cross-industry compilation of identity information. It examined more than 280 million SSNs to determine discrepancies.
“Our research shows that Social Security numbers, contrary to popular perception, do not uniquely identify an individual,” said Dr. Stephen Coggeshall, chief technology officer, ID Analytics. “Most of these cases of duplication are likely due to simple data entry errors as opposed to deliberate falsification. Nevertheless, organizations expose themselves and their customers to risk if they solely rely on the SSN to verify an individual.”
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Synthetic Identity Fraud Rate Increases More Than 100 Percent Over Three Years: http://www.idanalytics.com/blog/press-releases/synthetic-identity-fraud-rate-increases-100-percent-three-years/
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – ID Analytics®, Inc., a leader in consumer risk management, today announced a new study from ID:A Labs that shows while the number of synthetic identities is decreasing, the average fraud rate for synthetic identities has increased more than 100 percent since 2010. The study described in ID Analytics’ white paper, “The Long Con: Analysis of Synthetic Identities”, examined new account applications in the financial services and wireless industries over a three-year period to determine the size of the synthetic identity pool and the risk level to companies.
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The election integrity commission's requested data included the social security numbers of registered voters. Imagine what havoc they could create by cherry picking duplicated names associated with social security numbers. And you would never know until it came time for you to vote.
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