BRB's Public Records Blog

GAO Issues Report on SSN’s

A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report indicates federal efforts to truncate SSN’s on Federal Tax Liens has not been totally effective.  Since 01/2006 the last four digits have been truncated however identity thieves are accessing old records at some county courts and government agencies to reconstruct the complete number.  The report also indicated the I.R.S. does not mandate SSN’s to be truncated on all lien release certificates issued when the debt is paid.  View abstract of GAO report.

The report will most likely fuel the fire for legislation that will effect how numbers are displayed and truncated in the future.

BRB’s SSN Validator-Web Now Available

BRB’s SSN Validator-Web provides cost effective assurance of verifying identity and fighting fraud. Simply enter the 9-digit SSN and you will know within seconds if the number is valid. BRB’s SSN Validator-Web also identifies the year and state of issue - a geographical clue to when and where the individual obtained the SSN.  Added features include -

  •  Batch load up to 100 SSN’s at one time.
  •  Indicates if a SSN is on the SSA Death Index.
  •  Search the SSA Death Index by name.
  •  Updated Monthly

For more information Click Here.

Social Security Number Verification VIA the SSA

BRB recently was asked a question regarding the program the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers employers to validate an SSN. Below is a description of this program.

The SSA will verify a SSN for an employer, but ONLY if the subject employee is a new hire, current, or former employee. Up to five employees can be verified per phone call to 800-772-6270. The employer must first supply the employer’s tax ID number (EIN), then give the employee’s full name, DOB, SSN and gender. The SSA operator will state “agree” or “not agree.” The SSA operator will not indicate if there is a minor error or typo, such as one digit off on a birth date. Keep in mind that this system is not for use on a pre-employment screening basis.

BRB has a recently introduced a SSN Validator which verifies the state and year of issue of a Social Security Number.  It also cross references the SSA death index.  Click Here for more information or to visit the free demo.

Identity Theft Figures

According to research by the Javelin Strategy and Research for the Council of Better Business Bureaus:

Identity fraud has decreased from 10.1 million in 2003 to 8.9 million in 2006.

Highest rate of identity theft is among 25-34 year olds (5.4%).  The lowest is senior citizens. (2.3%)

More than 90% of compromised data occurs outside the Internet.

Privacy Advocate Effectively Applies Public Pressure

Betty “BJ” Ostergren of Virginia Watchdog is on a crusade to remove SSN’s and personal identifiers from records available online.  Her efforts recently influenced Arizona and Colorado to remove some UCC records from their perspective state websites.   She is currently pressuring Massachusetts to follow suit.  She has a persuasive way of making a point . . . she posts  personal records of legislators on her site as examples.

Texas SSN Redaction Update

Texas House Bill 2061, which repeals a 2003 law that banned public disclosure of Social Security Numbers, passed the House this week and moves on to the Senate.  See our March 2 posting for more background information. View Bill Folder.

Identity Theft Facts and Figures

According to a recent article from InformationWeek.
Less than 3% of stolen data is used to create fraud.  A victim’s average out-of-pocket cost when fraud occurs on an existing credit card or account is $587.  The average out-of-pocket cost when stolen identities are used to open new accounts is $617.  Fraud cost declined by $6.4 billion last year.

TX Clerks Get 60 Day Reprieve

AG Abbott has given lawmakers 60 days to correct a disclosure problem involving Social Security Numbers.  During this time period the AG reported his opinion “will have no force or effect.”  Abbott admitted his ruling had brought “a virtual halt to a tremendous amount of business and commerce in Texas.”

In the meantime Rep Keffer, the House Ways and Means Chairman and sponsor of SB 2061, will continue to work on legislation.  It is reported that it may cost hundreds of millions of dollars and years to comply with the ruling.

Two Bills Introduced to Help Prevent Identity Theft

Ted Stevens (R-AK) introduced the Protecting Consumer Phone Records Act.  It would require telephone companies to have a customer's written consent before selling personal information rather than requiring customers to opt-out.  It would apply to wireline, wireless and VoIP carriers.  All phone companies would be prohibited from selling personal information except under narrow exemptions.

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA.) introduced the Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act.  It would bar the sale or display Social Security numbers without an owner's consent and prohibit federal, state and local government agencies from displaying SSN numbers on public records posted on the Web and issued on CD’s and other electronic media.