I am an adopted person. My mother remarried when I was a toddler and my stepfather adopted me. I then took on my stepfathers' last name. The Social Security office then gave me a NEW Social Security number with my NEW last name on it. My BIRTH Social Security number was never made inactive, nor was it done away with.
The Social Security Office informed me that they cannot destroy or delete any Social Security number, but only make it inactive (as when someone dies). However, this was not done to my original number.
In a recent trip to the Social Security office they mistakingly gave me my original number. I told them that number was incorrect, and that's what started the ordeal. I was also informed at that time that someone had went to work for Domino's Pizza when I was only 8 years old... And it WASNT ME!
I told them that I never worked for Domino's and they said they would do a full investigation into the issue and call me within a couple months. I was told that I should call them back if I didn't hear from them.
Then, when I called them back, they asked me to come in. They then informed me that I wasn't supposed to know about my original number. At that time I asked "What has been done about the investigation regarding identity theft?" They told me NOTHING - THAT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM! They said "It's up to the person who had the identity theft commited on to report it".
So that brought up the question: IF they aren't doing anything about the criminal claiming to be me - and it's up to the person the theft was commited against (that's ME, right?) - what do I do to get this person to pay for their crimes. That's what any moral person would do, right - report a crime they know happened?
So here's the BIG LOOPHOLE - for all you ADOPTED PEOPLE out there. Seems that as long as you use an adopted persons' ORIGINAL social security number, you can commit fraud and identity theft on that person and NEVER get caught!
Why?
Seems that the ONLY person that can do ANYTHING about that identity theft and fraud is the adopted person - BUT ONLY AS THEIR PRE-ADOPTED SELF! And since the adopted person probably doesn't have their adoption records to prove who they WERE, they can't even stop the criminal themselves! Even though the crime was commited against them (but not?)
Gets really hairy here:
Knowing the loophole, this is how it could have worked for ME -
I KNOW my birth name AND my original Social Security Number. I KNOW my birthdate AND my mother's maiden name. So guess what:
I could start up a whole new line of credit with that information and the ONLY person that can stop me is... MYSELF (as my pre-adoption self, anyway)... And since that person doesn't technically exist anymore (since I can't prove who I AM because the adoption papers are sealed)... I can't even legally stop MYSELF from commiting identity theft against ME! How cool is that!
Back to the situation that is totally mind-boggling:
I asked the clerk if there is anyway that I can prove who I am (other than adoption records) so that I can legally get my information from them and report this criminal. They asked - and here is the big kicker - "Why do you care... It's not hurting your credit!"
Well, America... Here is why I care:
If I would have known that the Twin Towers were going to be destroyed and had an opportunity to find out who it was, don't you think I should tell someone to stop the criminals? Well, if you use the same mindset as our glorious Social Security Administration: "If it doesn't affect YOU, why should you care?" I didn't PERSONALLY know anyone who lives near, worked in, or had any monitary gain from anyone or anything to do with the Twin Towers... But that doesn't mean I shouldn't care, right?
Also, if someone was robbing the Chase Bank down the street, but I bank at Capital One... Do I not bother reporting it because it doesn't affect MY PERSONAL MONEY?
What kind of government do we have, that would allow criminals to steadily commit identity theft and fraud, that asks "WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE"?
I notified the Social Security Administration about said loophole, and was informed that there is NO ONE who monitors them, or who can make adjustments to their policies... Which would seem to benefit from changes.
I even contacted my Senators as well as Attorney Generals. No one knows anything to do about this situation. So, until they get their head out of their butts... Know this:
For every person in America who is adopted - that is one EASY count of identity theft and fraud that could go on FOREVER with NO ONE STOPPING IT! EVER!
I am thoroughly disappointed in our government systems.
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