Home
News
DENVER - Thousands of people have had their Social Security numbers stolen then used by others to get jobs in Colorado, leaving some struggling to prove they need public housing and students at risk of being denied student loans, Gov. Bill Owens said Wednesday.
Rick Grice, director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, said he discovered the thefts when he asked his computer experts to pick out multiple uses of Social Security numbers filed by major employers for worker's compensation insurance.
In the third quarter last year, the department found 2,249 cases where a single Social Security number was used six or more times. In one case the same number was provided by 57 different employers.
The report searched for Social Security numbers being used at six or more places because there are legal ways that a number could be used several times, including people who have two or more jobs.
"We have just celebrated Independence Day, but many Americans and Coloradans have lost part of their freedom. Their identities have been stolen," Owens said.
Owens cited one case where a woman was denied public housing because Social Security records claimed she earned too much money to qualify. He said it also could affect students applying for student loans who don't discover problems until it is too late.
Identity theft has been a growing concern, leading to the lawmakers this year to pass a law making such an offense a felony punishable by up to six years in prison. It was signed by Owens in May.
Owens said it isn't worth prosecuting the employers for failing to check out the identities of employees because a violation is only a $50 fine and it would cost more to prosecute those cases.
Owens said he will ask lawmakers to increase the fines during a special session on illegal immigration that begins Wednesday. State officials have said illegal immigrants often go undetected because they don't apply for unemployment insurance.
The governor said he will send a letter to major employers warning them of potential violations if lawmakers fail to act.
The governor released a list of employers who broke the law, including school districts, cities and a number of private companies that had been redacted because they had not been charged with any crimes.
They included a dental management company, a payroll agency, a marketing agency, a dairy and the City and County of Denver.
Rick Grice, director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, said he discovered the thefts when he asked his computer experts to pick out multiple uses of Social Security numbers filed by major employers for worker's compensation insurance.
In the third quarter last year, the department found 2,249 cases where a single Social Security number was used six or more times. In one case the same number was provided by 57 different employers.
The report searched for Social Security numbers being used at six or more places because there are legal ways that a number could be used several times, including people who have two or more jobs.
"We have just celebrated Independence Day, but many Americans and Coloradans have lost part of their freedom. Their identities have been stolen," Owens said.
Owens cited one case where a woman was denied public housing because Social Security records claimed she earned too much money to qualify. He said it also could affect students applying for student loans who don't discover problems until it is too late.
Identity theft has been a growing concern, leading to the lawmakers this year to pass a law making such an offense a felony punishable by up to six years in prison. It was signed by Owens in May.
Owens said it isn't worth prosecuting the employers for failing to check out the identities of employees because a violation is only a $50 fine and it would cost more to prosecute those cases.
Owens said he will ask lawmakers to increase the fines during a special session on illegal immigration that begins Wednesday. State officials have said illegal immigrants often go undetected because they don't apply for unemployment insurance.
The governor said he will send a letter to major employers warning them of potential violations if lawmakers fail to act.
The governor released a list of employers who broke the law, including school districts, cities and a number of private companies that had been redacted because they had not been charged with any crimes.
They included a dental management company, a payroll agency, a marketing agency, a dairy and the City and County of Denver.
