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How can you tell if someone is using your Social
Security number for Employment Purposes?
Fake ID's and counterfeit documents are a
continuing problem associated with identity theft, as well as the
employment of undocumented immigrants.
Either way, if someone has used your social
security number to get a job, it can cause all kinds of problems. You have
the IRS and Social Security administration to worry about. Your credit
could be in trouble too.
A routine part of many credit checks is a
check of the social security number, as to whether it's been used by an
individual with a different name. You could be called into suspicion, and
denied credit. More about Social
Security Numbers and Identity Theft.
Your Yearly Social Security Statement
If you are not receiving Social Security
benefits, starting at age 25 you should automatically get a statement from the
Social Security administration by mail each year. It is normally sent
about 3 months before your birthday.
Your yearly Social Security Earnings and
Benefit Estimate Statement lists all earnings posted to
your record, along with an estimate of benefits for you and your family. In
addition, it can tip you off that your identity has been stolen for
employment purposes.
It is very important that that you check
your Social Security Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement yearly.
In fact, if you haven't received your
statement, that could, itself, be a symptom of identity theft.
To request your benefits estimate
statement, download form
7004, (requires the Acrobat Reader) or call the Social Security
Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
What to Look For
On the statement, look for:
- Missing, incorrect, or overstated
earnings. (Earnings
should agree with each year's W-2 or tax return.)
- Incorrect or misspelled name.
- Incorrect date of birth.
Be sure to notify Social Security of any
and all errors.
If you suspect someone is using your SSN,
call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
Employment on your Credit Report
Your credit
report shows your employment history, and you should follow up on
certain kinds of errors.
It is usually harmless (and not uncommon)
for the employment history to be incomplete, especially if you didn't
apply for credit while holding a particular job. If you see employment
listed that is clearly not yours, consider it a red-flag that should be
researched.
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Check
Your Social Security
