Thread: Selling Social Security Numbers

Selling Social Security Numbers

Posted: Aug 13, 2013 4:04 PM PDT <em class="wnDate">Tuesday, August 13, 2013 7:04 PM EST</em>Updated: Aug 13, 2013 4:04 PM PDT <em class="wnDate">Tuesday, August 13, 2013 7:04 PM EST</em>

By Isiah Carey, Reporter - bio



HOUSTON (FOX 26) -
Fox 26 news has learned a former Harris County jail employee is now the subject of the three investigations for theft that could affect dozens of detainees.

That person, who we're not identifying until there is an arrest, is accused of stealing the social security numbers of 75 to 100 Harris County inmates.

Sources close to the case say the suspect then used the numbers to file for tax refunds the inmates had no knowledge of.

We've also learned the amounts of those refunds range from $5,000 to $7,000 per inmate.

A spokesperson for the sheriff's office says there are multiple investigations including criminal, internal, and the Office of Inspector General.
Don Hare owns a tax service in Humble. He says stealing a social security number and filing to get a tax refund happens more often than we imagine.

Hare says, "all you need is social security and a name and you can make up any job and you can make up any salary and any deductions and the IRS will approve that and then once it's approved they'll follow up over the years and figure out if that was real."

Alan Bernstein with the Harris County Sheriff's Office says once the investigations are complete they will be turned over to the district attorney.

In the meantime, sources say the suspect in this case could be arrested any day.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/23...#ixzz2bxvM4j1z

Ironic that the guy that was in jail for robbery is offended that the county employees may have stolen from him!