Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI) recently introduced the Social Security Identity Defense Act of 2010 which would require the Internal Revenue Service to advise a taxpayer if his or her Social Security Number had been used by someone else on a W-2. Representative Petri issued the following statement in a news release describing the intent of the bill, which was cosponsored by Representative Melissa Bean (D-IL) :

"The Petri-Bean bill - the Social Security Identity Defense (SSIDA) Act - would require the IRS to inform a taxpayer when his or her Social Security number has been used fraudulently to gain employment; provide that the IRS share this information with the FBI and allow the FBI to make facts available to state and local law enforcement agencies; and prevent the appearance of a fraudulently used Social Security number on a W-2 statement." He said that currently the IRS does not share this information.

NCISS Washington Advocate Larry Sabbath contacted the House Social Security Subcommittee to explain that while assisting victims of identity theft, private investigators have sometimes found that several SSN's had been fraudulently used by a criminal. In these cases, the investigators have notified victims, including those who were not clients at the time. This is another reason that it is imperative that private investigators continue to have access to SSN's for lawful purposes.

Keeping the profession informed,

Jimmie Mesis, LPI
NCISS Legislative Chairman
jim@nciss.org

NCISS
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Baltimore, Maryland 21219-1927
(800) 445-8408 . Fax: (410) 388-9746
www.NCISS.org

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