The Secret List of ID Theft Victims [Gov't isn't Talking]

[complain jane]

The secret list of ID theft victims
Consumers could be warned, but U.S government isn't talking

By Bob Sullivan
Technology correspondent
MSNBC
Updated: 2:38 p.m. ET Jan. 27, 2005

<snip>

...while several government agencies and private corporations sometimes know whose Social Security numbers are being ripped off, they won't notify the victims. That is, until they come after the victims for back taxes or unpaid loans owed by the imposter.

<snip>

Everyone benefits -- except the victim

Melody Millet's husband Steve was the victim of immigrant identity theft. None of the agencies involved are trying to tackle the problem because they all benefit from it, as does corporate America, she said. The IRS and Social Security collect extra taxes, lenders sell more loans and employers get inexpensive workers. Fixing the problem and telling all the victimized consumers would upset the delicate apple cart that is America's immigration policy, she said.

"The government is forcing people to share identities because they want to provide cheap labor to corporate America," Melody Millet said.

An undocumented immigrant worker managed to use Steve Millet's Social Security number for more than 10 years before the incident was discovered. Millet said the imposter managed to obtain a dozen credit cards, buy a car, and even a house using the stolen number and his own name. All the while, that imposter paid taxes, paid into Social Security, and took out loans using the stolen Social Security Number. All of those agencies had a record of the abused SSN; none bothered to tell Steve Millet.

<snip>

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6814673/

[havocmom]

1. Think how bad the retail numbers would be if it weren't for the fraudulent

purchases made via ID theft. Gadszooks, if we let people know they were victims so they could stop the crooks, who would Corporate America sell all that shit to? Then again, it might make a dent in the trade deficit...

*sigh* tis true, the inmates are running the institution.