Thousands of Utahns at Risk for SS# Fraud

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Letters are in the mail this week for 100 Utahns whose identities could be at risk. The Department of Workforce Services says as many as 20-thousand social security numbers in their system are being used by multiple people - which could indicate fraud. Assistant Attorney General Richard Hamp says the consequences are serious:

"When they use your number, their wages get confused with your wages," says Hamp. "And that starts screwing up your credit report. They make large purchases like cars or homes. And indeed I've got a friend who works over the bankruptcy trustees office who is prosecuting illegals that have taken it all the way through bankruptcy using someone else's number."

The Department of Workforce Services discovered the potential fraud last year when it noticed more than six-hundred children under 14 receiving public assistance while at the same time reporting wages. Spokesman Curt Stewart says that was a red flag, but the state was not allowed to alert the rightful owners of the social security numbers until the Utah Legislature changed state law. Nearly every day Hamp says a new identity theft wrinkle arises:

"When somebody goes in and receives medical services using your number, their medical records are now getting grafted into your medical history," says Hamp. "So if someone comes in with a different blood type, your blood type may change on your medical records. Someone comes in who's not diabetic and you are diabetic, your file may now show that you're not diabetic."

Hamp says hospitals are aware of the fraud and working to prevent it. But, he also says there's no good way for a person to know if their social security number is being used illegally by someone else. The Utah Attorney General's office has created a website to report potential fraud at www.idtheft.utah.gov.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW