I think someone might be using my social security number, what do I do?
in need of answers asked:
A few months ago I was hired at a new job and they ran a background check through GIS. I was looking through the background check information and stumbled upon something unsettling. Under the section “TU SSN SEARCH NAME AND ADDRESS” there was the name and address of someone I did not know from Milwaukee, WI (I am from Fresno, CA). There was no other information and no way to contact the background check company to see what this meant.
A few months ago I was hired at a new job and they ran a background check through GIS. I was looking through the background check information and stumbled upon something unsettling. Under the section “TU SSN SEARCH NAME AND ADDRESS” there was the name and address of someone I did not know from Milwaukee, WI (I am from Fresno, CA). There was no other information and no way to contact the background check company to see what this meant.
I am afraid someone might be using my social security number or has used it at some time. I ran the guys information on one of the cheap $3 background check sites that told me his exact address (my hard copy background check on myself only listed the street he lived on) and birth date. I wanted to make sure I had some information available for whatever government agency I end up contacting.
What does it mean that this individual was listed on my background check, and what should I do? I check my free annual credit report 3 times a year (in 4-month spans) and have never noticed anything suspicious.
Emma
February 6th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Christian
This was an interesting question to me.
I know that the same SS# is used for more than one person. There are just not enough numbers to go around. Maybe you stumbled upon someone that shares your same ss , but with a different name?
Could it be?
February 9th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Francisco
It’s possible their records got mixed up. Maybe his SSN is one digit off from yours and somebody made a typo at some point in time.
I’d keep monitoring your credit (and the annual earning statement you get from Social Security )but probably not worry about it further unless you see some evidence that something is fishy.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:16 am
Kristen
If nothing came back on the 3 credit bureaus, perhaps you should put on fraud alert through Trans Union Fraud Dept. Their toll fee# 1-800-680-7289. They will notify the other 2 bureau for you but must be renewed every 90 days to keep it active. Social Security has a fraud dept, their toll free # 1-800-269-0271. Better to be safe than sorry later.