I've Been Mugged

Dallas School System Created Bogus Social Security Numbers For Undocumented Foreign Workers

Apparently, in parts of Texas undocumented foreign workers don't need to buy stolen Social Security Numbers from identity thieves, or make up bogus Social Security Numbers to get a job. The local government will happily do it for them. Last week, the Dallas Morning News reported:

"Years after being advised by a state agency to stop, the Dallas Independent School District continued to provide foreign citizens with fake Social Security numbers to get them on the payroll quickly... Some of the numbers were real Social Security numbers already assigned to people elsewhere."

This is unbelievable! How stupid can people be? First, they engaged in creating bogus SSNs. Second, were told to stop something (e.g., fraud) they never should have been doing in the first place. Third,they continued to do it anyway. The newspaper reported:

"The practice was described in an internal report issued in September by the district's investigative office, which looked into the matter after receiving a tip. The report said the Texas Education Agency learned of the fake numbers in 2004 and told DISD then that the practice "was illegal."

Apparently, these Texas school and government officials either don't know or don't care about the consequences and damage victims experience when others fraudulent use their valid Social Security Numbers. In this part of Texas, the ends justify the means, which is all about speedy hiring regardless of the consequences and damages to other citizens.

"DISD human resources chief Kim Olson, who came to the district in 2007, said that she learned about the false numbers this past summer around the time the district's investigative unit was looking into them and that she put a stop to the practice."

The SSA is currently investigating the DISD's activities. Good! A story like this makes one wonder what other school districts, agencies, or companies have done the same as the DISD.

This story is far from over. Journalists and Texas citizens should want to know exactly how Olson put a stop to this fraud activity. Who was suspended, fired, and/or fined? Who was prosecuted and jailed? What is the Texas State Attorney General's office doing? When did the DISD implement data security training classes for its employees? How many victims, whose valid SSNs were duplicated by DISD, are residents in other states?

How To Find A Job While Safeguarding Your Personal Data

Recently, when I changed jobs I had a chance to practice identity protection habits during the application and interview process. Given the current identity theft problem, it is important for job seekers to disclose enough information to get the interview (and job), but not disclose too much information.

Yes, it is possible to disclose too much information.

The Identity theft Resource Center advises consumers not to disclose the following on your resume or an application form:

• "Your Social Security Number (SSN)
• Date of birth (DOB)
• Marital status
• The year you graduated from various schools and the school name. The school name is a personal choice issue. By knowing what school you attended and graduation date, a thief could discover more about you via alumni lists. An option is to just list your degree and subject or area of specialty.
• Professional license number
• Sex – it is against the law for them to ask you for this information
• Age- it is unlawful for an employer to ask for this information
• Disabilities – unless the job specifies a request to describe any physical limitations, you should not offer this information up front
• The reason why you left a past employer
• Hobbies
• EIN (taxpayer id number if you use that as an alternate to the SSN)
• Driver’s license number
• Any of the above information can be provided to an interested employer in person upon request. Keep in mind, a resume only opens the door to an interview. Jobs are not offered based on resume or application information."

The reality is that not all companies, human resource departments, and employment agencies adequately protect the sensitive data on your resume. You don't know who might see your resume and for how long the company will archive your resume. If you get the interview (or the job offer), you can always disclose the additional information as needed later.

I chose to include on my resume the school names and graduation years, since I sent my resume directly  to the hiring manager. i did not use a job search web site. If I had, then I would have included less information on my resume. Since I have a freeze on my credit reports, I will temporarily left that freeze when (and if) my new employer needs to complete a background check.