Social security numbers not secure, study says
Millions of Americans at risk
By David Migoya
The Denver Post
Posted: 09/30/2010 01:00:00 AM MDTUpdated: 09/30/2010 09:46:47 AM MDT


More than 20 million Americans have multiple Social Security numbers associated with their names, according to a new study of commercial databases by a leading consumer risk-management firm.

The study by ID Analytics Inc. in San Diego also found that about 100,000 Americans have five or more of the numbers tagged to their identity.

Most of the associations are innocuous — a mistakenly entered digit or a transposition of two numerals — with little or no intent to defraud the legitimate owner, experts say.

But the ones that aren't so innocent are the most damaging of frauds because they're designed to steal, or even just borrow, a person's identity.

Still, people whose multiple numbers aren't fraud-based should be concerned. Experts say the range of troubles that can come from having an inaccurate Social Security number linked to your name is troublesome.

Those with more than one number can find themselves adversely affected when they apply for credit — since someone else's history might be factored in. They could also encounter something as potentially serious as a mixup in medical histories.

"Our research shows that Social Security numbers, contrary to popular perception, do not uniquely identify an individual," said Stephen Coggeshall, chief technology officer at ID Analytics and lead researcher in the study.

"Most of it is just data entry," he said. "But hundreds of them are obvious data manipulations for someone trying to get inappropriate services."

Part of the issue is that Social Security numbers were never intended to be used as a unique identifier. Businesses simply took the idea and ran with it.

"Social Security numbers were really an account number for retirement, specifically stated never to be a national ID number," Coggeshall said.

The company analyzed more than 280 million Social Security numbers stored in its ID Network, the nation's only real-time cross-industry database of identity information. The Social Security Administration said its number system wasn't designed for commercial use.

"As other entities use the Social Security number for purposes beyond what it was created for, problems like those indicated in the report are going to happen," said Michael Baksa, the SSA's spokesman in Denver.

The numbers have become so entrenched in the business community's methods of tracking people that mistakes seem bound to happen.

Often someone is merely borrowing a number — typically, altering one of their own numerals — to qualify for something as simple as cellphone or cable service. Sometimes, it's to get medical treatment.

"They're merely bypassing the system in order to avoid having to pay deposits," said Jay Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego. "Medical records are more dangerous. You really don't want someone with an epilepsy diagnosis to fall into your medical profile.

"You'd likely see your driver's license disappear."

Once done, the mistake can take an annoying amount of time to unravel, experts say.

"Even (in the case of) a clerical error resulting in a mistaken identity, the victim must go through a litany of administrative tasks if a debt collector or any other agency comes a- calling," said Richard Siciliano, an expert on identity theft and a risk-management consultant. "The only recourse is to deal with the fallout, whether you like it or not."

David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com



Read more: Social security numbers not secure, study says - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_1 ... z11DtQG4Yg

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_1 ... source=pop