Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is leading an effort to fight identity theft across the country.
In 2018, the Social Security Administration was ordered to come up with a new database that could help protect Social Security information. The new system would allow financial groups to check a Social Security number, and makes sure it matches information they are being given.
The current system does not allow this, so a criminal can use a fake name and birthday with a Social Security number, to open fake accounts or take out loans. This can ruin a person’s credit if their Social Security number is used.
Attorneys general from 43 states, and D.C., signed a letter asking the Social Security Administration to make the new system a top priority.
“We ask you to evaluate and make necessary modifications to the Social Security Administration database and systems to comply promptly with this new provision of federal law. As enforcers of the data breach laws in our jurisdictions, we see the impact that exposure of Social Security Numbers can have. Our residents lose thousands of dollars a year and suffer from ruined credit scores, as well as a general sense of anxiety regarding their identity,” the attorneys general wrote.
