How Can I Determine If a Social Security Card Is Genuine?
Social Security cards are just like any other document in that they can be faked. Since Social Security cards are required by employers in order to secure employment, many illegal immigrants resort to purchasing a fake Social Security card. If you are an employer, you will want to verify that the Social Security card handed to you is not fraudulent. Fortunately, there are several ways you can do this.
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Instructions
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Examine the numbers on the Social Security card. You should see three numbers (area number), a dash, two numbers (group number), a dash and four more numbers (serial number). According to the Social Security Administration, these numbers will never contain a series of zeros, or the numbers 666. Also, there are no 800 or 900 series, and the 700 series never went above the number 772.
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Ask for two other forms of identification to verify that the name on the Social Security card is legitimate. A birth certificate and license would help prove the individual's identity.
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Ask the individual to sign a blank piece of paper and then compare that signature with the one on the Social Security card. If the signatures don't match up, the card is likely a fraud.
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Compare the Social Security card in question with your own to determine if the paper, ink and fonts used are a match. You may want to use a magnifying glass to help you examine the card up close.
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Sign up to use the Social Security Administration's Social Security Number Verification Service. This service allows employers to quickly input the number found on the Social Security card in the computer. Results as to whether the number itself is a fake are returned within minutes.
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Tips & Warnings
Social Security numbers also do not contain any letters. Spotting a letter would indicate the card is a fake.
Report any confirmed cases of fraud immediately to the Social Security Office.
References
Resources
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