How Can your Business Help Fight Identity Theft?

Start with Social Security Numbers

Target Audience: Business Owners, Social Security, Social Security Number Verification Services, Employers.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. It occurs when someone obtains important personal information, such as a Social Security number (SSN), to commit fraud or theft. Once the information is obtained, impersonators can open fraudulent credit cards, secure deposits on big ticket items like houses and cars, enroll for insurance benefits, and deplete personal accounts.

Your social security number is perhaps the most important piece of information about you; making it the most vulnerable to identity theft.

How Can your Business Help Fight Identity Theft?

Companies can help individuals fight identity theft by starting with the following two steps:

Verify New Hires: Ask to physically see an employee's social security card when filling out the required Form W-2. (This requirement also applies to resident and nonresident alien employees.)

Go Online: Verify SSNs online at the Social Security Administration's website using the Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS). http://www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnv.htm

Internet Options
According to the SSNVS one can:

• Verify up to 10 names and SSNs yielding immediate results.
• Upload files of up to 250,000 names and SSNs often receive results the next business day – an excellent way to verify an entire payroll databases or a large number of workers at one time.
  

What to do if an SSN Fails the Verification Process?

• Contrast submitted information
• Ask employee to verify information
• Ask employee to check with any local Social Security office
• Document your efforts

NOTE: For more detailed instructions on registering and/or using SSNVS, get a copy of the www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnvs_handbk.htm.

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