My SS# stolen.....effect on future gun purchases?

[RDCL]

As you know, any time a police car is behind you in traffic.....the officer will almost always do a routine "plate-run" on your vehicle.....wether you are doing anything wrong or not.
(Bear with me....some explaing is in order so here goes)

Well, this happened to me just recently. I was pulled over (lights flashing, siren wailing). I did everything correct in pulling over and turning off ignition AND had my license out & ready......sitting there wondering just WHAT in the hell I did wrong! AH! I figured.....my seatbelt was not on. THAT must be it. It's a law here in Ohio.
Imagine my shock when the officer informed me that there is a WARRANT out against my SS#!

.....not ME....not my car description...not my plate number....but my social#.

So, Officer took my license and told me to wait a few moments as he went back to his car. He came back and informed me that a Dept. in a neighboring town had a warrant out for a black male.....wanted for fraud....and that the individual was using multiple SS numbers and MINE was one of them. The officer gave me the phone number of the PD that issued the warrant and said that I must contact them in an attempt to get the matter resolved and get my SS# REMOVED from the warrant.

Well, I immediately drove to the neighboring Police Dept. and explained my situtation. I was informed that I must draft a letter of explanation and sign it. I did this on the spot. The folks at the dept. were very kind and rather sympathetic given the hassle I went through. They gave me the full name and description of the individual using mine and others social number. They explained that they would "fix" the problem for me and have my SS# removed from the warrant. They have NO evidence of the individual having used my name or address at all.....JUST my social#.

So, I'm wondering how this issue will effect any future gun purchases I want to make. As a 51 year old man I've NEVER had a problem and have always been cleared for purchase. Mind you....so far I don't think this is outright case of "idenity theft" in that the police have no records of my name & address being used by anyone other than myself. ONLY my social# by this one individual. (HOW he obtained it is a mystery to me)

Has anyone out there had a similiar experience? and if so.......how did it effect your gun buying?

Thanks in advance for your comments!
Russ

 

[earlthegoat2]

You dont have to put your SS# on a 4473 so the theory goes that the FBI will never know it when they run a NICS check on you. Of course they will be able to figure it out eventually though. Basically as long as there is no crime connected to your SSN then there will be no problems with firearms purchases. If there is then you will have to go through the NICS appeal process.

This sounds bad but I have actually heard more good than bad about this. If you are in the right and you appeal a firearm puchase denial you should win and have any further NICS checks go smoothly. If not then get your concealed carry license and/or a UPIN. Then you will never have problems.

 

[mp510]

I stopped putting my SSN on federal and state firearms purchase documents a long time ago. It hasn't had any adverse effect. The only potential benefit is that the SSN could help clear things up if they thought you were a bad guy based on your other information. Give it a try without your SSN. If your name clears okay, just continue ommitting that info.

 

[W.E.G.]

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/nics/nicsfact.htm

NICS Appeals

Individuals who are denied the purchase of a firearm may request that the NICS or the state which
processed their transaction provide the reasons for the denial. The regulations address the process
for filing an appeal. Appellants must include the NTN assigned to their transaction. Appeals may be
submitted via facsimile at 1-888-550-6427; by e-mail at [email protected]; or by
mail to the FBI, Criminal Justice Information Services Division, NICS Section, Appeal Services Team,
Post Office Box 4278, Clarksburg, West Virginia 26302-9922.

Voluntary Appeal File (VAF)

Under this new process, potential purchasers may apply to be considered for entry into the VAF by
signing an applicant statement which authorizes the NICS Section to retain information that would
otherwise be destroyed upon the approval of the firearm transaction. This retained information
includes, but is not limited to: a fingerprint card, court documentation, correspondence, and
information contained in the applicant’s appeal file if one exists. A complete NICS check is still required
for future purchases and will result in a denial if additional prohibitive information is discovered. The
NICS Section is required to destroy any records submitted to the VAF upon written request of the
individual.







http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/nics/vafbrocheng.pdf

http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/25-10-correction-erroneous-system-information-19676561


28 CFR 25.10 - Correction of erroneous system information.

Code of Federal Regulations - Title 28: Judicial Administration (December 2005)

TITLE 28 - JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER I - DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

PART 25 - DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS

subpart a - THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM

25.10 - Correction of erroneous system information.

(a) An individual may request the reason for the denial from the agency that conducted the check of the NICS (the denying agency, which will be either the FBI or the state or local law enforcement agency serving as a POC). The FFL will provide to the denied individual the name and address of the denying agency and the unique transaction number (NTN or STN) associated with the NICS background check. The request for the reason for the denial must be made in writing to the denying agency. (POCs at their discretion may waive the requirement for a written request.) (b) The denying agency will respond to the individual with the reasons for the denial within five business days of its receipt of the individual's request. The response should indicate whether additional information or documents are required to support an appeal, such as fingerprints in appeals involving questions of identity (i.e., a claim that the record in question does not pertain to the individual who was denied).

(c) If the individual wishes to challenge the accuracy of the record upon which the denial is based, or if the individual wishes to assert that his or her rights to possess a firearm have been restored, he or she may make application first to the denying agency, i.e., either the FBI or the POC. If the denying agency is unable to resolve the appeal, the denying agency will so notify the individual and shall provide the name and address of the agency that originated the document containing the information upon which the denial was based. The individual may then apply for correction of the record directly to the agency from which it originated. If the record is corrected as a result of the appeal to the originating agency, the individual may so notify the denying agency, which will, in turn, verify the record correction with the originating agency (assuming the originating agency has not already notified the denying agency of the correction) and take all necessary steps to correct the record in the NICS.

(d) As an alternative to the above procedure where a POC was the denying agency, the individual may elect to direct his or her challenge to the accuracy of the record, in writing, to the FBI, NICS Operations Center, Criminal Justice Information Services Division, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Module C3, Clarksburg, West Virginia 263060147. Upon receipt of the information, the FBI will investigate the matter by contacting the POC that denied the transaction or the data source. The FBI will request the POC or the data source to verify that the record in question pertains to the individual who was denied, or to verify or correct the challenged record. The FBI will consider the information it receives from the individual and the response it receives from the POC or the data source.

If the record is corrected as a result of the challenge, the FBI shall so notify the individual, correct the erroneous information in the NICS, and give notice of the error to any Federal department or agency or any state that was the source of such erroneous records.

(e) Upon receipt of notice of the correction of a contested record from the originating agency, the FBI or the agency that contributed the record shall correct the data in the NICS and the denying agency shall provide a written confirmation of the correction of the erroneous data to the individual for presentation to the FFL. If the appeal of a contested record is successful and thirty (30) days or less have transpired since the initial check, and there are no other disqualifying records upon which the denial was based, the NICS will communicate a Proceed response to the FFL. If the appeal is successful and more than thirty (30) days have transpired since the initial check, the FFL must recheck the NICS before allowing the sale to continue. In cases where multiple disqualifying records are the basis for the denial, the individual must pursue a correction for each record.

(f) An individual may also contest the accuracy or validity of a disqualifying record by bringing an action against the state or political subdivision responsible for providing the contested information, or responsible for denying the transfer, or against the United States, as the case may be, for an order directing that the contested information be corrected or that the firearm transfer be approved.

(g) An individual may provide written consent to the FBI to maintain information about himself or herself in a Voluntary Appeal File to be established by the FBI and checked by the NICS for the purpose of preventing the future erroneous denial or extended delay by the NICS of a firearm transfer. Such file shall be used only by the NICS for this purpose. The FBI shall remove all information in the Voluntary Appeal File pertaining to an individual upon receipt of a written request by that individual. However, the FBI may retain such information contained in the Voluntary Appeal File as long as needed to pursue cases of identified misuse of the system. If the FBI finds a disqualifying record on the individual after his or her entry into the Voluntary Appeal File, the FBI may remove the individual's information from the file.

[Order No. 218698, 63 FR 58307, Oct. 30, 1998, as amended by Order No.

27272004, 69 FR 43901, July 23, 2004]

Read more: http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/25-10-correction-erroneous-system-information-19676561#ixzz0vgu2WbFs

 

[clem]

I would suggest that you also comtact the three major credit companies and make a report about this.
Thier numbers are:

1-800-680-7289
1-888-397-3742
1-800-525-6285

 

[RDCL]

I thank you all for your detailed responses, clem.....appreciate those phone#'s....thanks.

Yes, I do realize that ones ss# is optional on form 4473. In past purchases however I've ALWAYS included it anyway....in that I'd always felt my social# confirmed beyond doubt who I am just in case another individual out there in my local area happens to have the same name......and that person having a criminal record.

But now????

The last time I purchased a handgun was back in May. Barely three months ago. The last time I recall writing my social# on a document of any kind, as a matter of fact.....and I'm quite postive my local shop keeps this info secure.

I was planning on making another handgun purchase coming this fall/winter and I have decided that immediately after filling out form 4473, I will (should) fully explain my dilema to the dealer before he calls in my info......just as a "heads up" that I MIGHT have a problem.

On the OTHER hand.....I might just find the gun I'm wanting to buy from a private seller at a gunshow I plan on going to in the fall and then not have an issue at all. The gun I'll be looking for is an old model no longer made. Thing is I'd RATHER shop/buy from my dealer in that they back up what they sell. I've had nothing but great service from them.

In any case it does stink I'm quite mad over the whole thing. Never committed a crime in my entire life and have always had a clean record and now my social security number has been tarnished because of some crook out there......and again....how this clown got my number is a complete mystery to me.....not to mention many other folks SS# too....NOT just mine. I don't get it.
As I've said....while I was at the police dept......they DID give me info on the individual and I found out through public records he has been in & out of jail many times. Auto theft/VIN tampering/passing bad checks....various other forms of fraud. I suppose I should be thankful that at least the police are "on to him" and I hope they get him.......again.

Again I must thank you all for your responses.
Russ

 

[Bubbles]

FBI NICS doesn't just check the SSN, it checks the combination of your full name, DOB, POB, SSN (if given, you don't have to), physical characteristics, etc. to run the check. So, unless the guy committing fraud is also using your name, DOB, and he looks like you, I wouldn't worry about it.

The bigger concern for me would be any dings on my credit reports.

 

[tincanhunter]

On a side note, I say do whatever you have to do to apply for a new SSN and update where necessary. It may sound like a pain in the ass, but think what might happen if this joker sells/barters/whatever your VALID SSN to some other criminal. It may be best to make the one you have now invalid.

 

[stickhauler]

I'm not sure you can apply for a new social security number. They issue you one when you apply originally, and it's yours for your lifetime the last I knew.

 

[bigalexe]

I'm not sure you can apply for a new social security number. They issue you one when you apply originally, and it's yours for your lifetime the last I knew.

In the event of actual provable identity theft I am 95% sure it is possible to get a new SSN issued. However the process is not simple because it's something that is supposed to be an absolute last resort. Were it not so late I would go google the process.

 

[cpaspr]

Another possibility

It's possible that he simply "made up" a string of numbers, and happened to make up one that was real and assigned to you.

Social Security numbers are assigned regionally. Starts with 0xx, issued in the Northeast, at least two I am aware of are from New York. 540-544 = issued in Oregon. 48x = Washington.

So he may have used his first three numbers, which he knew to be a valid combination, then simply picked the remaining six out of the air.

If he isn't using your number in combination with your name, then it isn't identity theft per se. He's not pretending to be you specifically. He's pretending to be someone other than himself who happens to have a SSN that has already been assigned to someone else. That someone else happens to be you.

 

[TH3180]

I would say at this point you need to worry about your credit over a firarm purchase. 3 years ago my debit card number got stolen. I almost have it all straightend out. It is amazing how long it takes to convince people that I am not the one that bought $35,000 worth of stuff. Best of luck keep us updated on what happens with it all.

 

[Art Eatman]

SSNs are easily come by for many people. In Texas, you must show the card to renew a driver's license or to get a hunting/fishing license--and the state now uses the SSN for the driver's license #. Are all those state employees trustworthy? How about the clerk in a JP's office, if you get a traffic ticket?

Bank personnel have access. Military IDs are SSNs, nowadays--at least my son's was, and it had to be written on the envelope of letters to and from him.

Guess what an Olde Phart's Medicare # is? Are all the folks in doctors' offices or in hospitals trustworthy?

Rant: Government has created this hazard which contributes greatly to identity theft, making such far easier than in the past. Government aids and abets identity theft.

 

[paul]

My advice to the OP:
Just get a new SS #...
They are all over the place...
I'd like one with 308, 762, or similar in it...
Maybe 45-70...
Good luck!
p

 

[TexasRifleman]

This one seems to be asked and answered, lots of very good information here.

Thanks to everyone for their input! Identity theft is horrible stuff.