Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > USA
Reload this Page >

Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

Old Sep 11th 2017, 6:33 am
  #1  
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 38
onetimeonly is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

I'm a green card holder and with all these stupid data breaches happening constantly (looking at you Equifax thanks a lot btw), it makes me concerned that if someone steals my identity they could really complicate or f up my immigration status or naturalization process if/when I pursue it.

Has anyone here had their identity compromised while a non-citizen? What did you do?
onetimeonly is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2017, 9:13 am
  #2  
UK->US
 
Joined: May 2017
Location: SE TX
Posts: 64
Katdog has much to be proud ofKatdog has much to be proud ofKatdog has much to be proud ofKatdog has much to be proud ofKatdog has much to be proud ofKatdog has much to be proud ofKatdog has much to be proud ofKatdog has much to be proud ofKatdog has much to be proud ofKatdog has much to be proud ofKatdog has much to be proud of
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

I don't know of any scenarios where a non-citizen has had their identity stolen.

If if you are paranoid (and maybe it's right to be) about having your identity stolen, you can issue a "credit freeze" to all three credit reporting agencies, which will mean no further lines of credit can be opened under your name.

Note that it does come with a cost. Here's an article about the process.
Katdog is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2017, 7:00 pm
  #3  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 60
iarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

I'm not aware that my identity's been stolen - at least, not yet. Equifax says my data was involved in their recent breach and I had a couple of pokes on one credit card during the affected time period. I'm not particularly concerned right now - especially when it comes to immigration. Crazy system that your SSN (or the last 4 digits) has become a supposedly secure way for so many companies to identify people. At least I've only had to share my A# on official government forms for DMV, employer, firearms purchase (not that the government's necessarily any better - the wife got caught up in the OPM breach a couple of years ago).
iarnell is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2017, 7:29 pm
  #4  
BE Forum Addict
 
tom169's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: NC, USA (ex Yorkshire)
Posts: 4,375
tom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

Originally Posted by iarnell
I'm not aware that my identity's been stolen - at least, not yet. Equifax says my data was involved in their recent breach and I had a couple of pokes on one credit card during the affected time period. I'm not particularly concerned right now - especially when it comes to immigration. Crazy system that your SSN (or the last 4 digits) has become a supposedly secure way for so many companies to identify people. At least I've only had to share my A# on official government forms for DMV, employer, firearms purchase (not that the government's necessarily any better - the wife got caught up in the OPM breach a couple of years ago).
Don't trust their breach checking website. It has been proven to give fake results.
tom169 is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2017, 8:49 pm
  #5  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,213
neill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

Non-citizens (and crucially, non-immigrants) can and do have SSNs, credit cards, so of course non-citizens can get caught in this.
The danger of course is if USCIS saw you were employed in multiple places (due to identity theft) and you really weren't. But of course, freezing your credit would also raise a flag should USCIS look into it.

I think the solution is just to flag your credit record and make them contact you whenever a check is done. Freezing is probably a bad thing in this case. Also order your credit reports and get them cleaned up if needed.
neill is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2017, 9:04 pm
  #6  
BE Forum Addict
 
tom169's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: NC, USA (ex Yorkshire)
Posts: 4,375
tom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond reputetom169 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

Originally Posted by neill
Non-citizens (and crucially, non-immigrants) can and do have SSNs, credit cards, so of course non-citizens can get caught in this.
The danger of course is if USCIS saw you were employed in multiple places (due to identity theft) and you really weren't. But of course, freezing your credit would also raise a flag should USCIS look into it.

I think the solution is just to flag your credit record and make them contact you whenever a check is done. Freezing is probably a bad thing in this case. Also order your credit reports and get them cleaned up if needed.
There is no evidence that freezing credit will raise a flag to USCIS.
tom169 is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2017, 9:37 pm
  #7  
 
Pulaski's Avatar
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,397
Pulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

Originally Posted by tom169
There is no evidence that freezing credit will raise a flag to USCIS.
Nor indeed that USCUS will see multiple jobs under the same SSN, because they can't.

Notoriously, the IRS refuses to share data on usage of SSNs because the IRS likes to collect their taxes and and doesn't want the revenue stream compromised by CBP agents going after illegal immigrants using a stolen SSN.
Pulaski is online now  
Old Sep 11th 2017, 9:52 pm
  #8  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,213
neill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond reputeneill has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

good to know.
neill is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2017, 10:15 pm
  #9  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 60
iarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond reputeiarnell has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

Originally Posted by tom169
Don't trust their breach checking website. It has been proven to give fake results.
I don't - but I know they have information about me - as far as I'm concerned their breach check just confirms what I already knew: they had my data and didn't take proper care of it. What's really galling, though, is that their response has been to encourage me to sign up for their own identity theft protection service - it may be free for a year, but I'm sure they'll start trying to persuade me to fork out next year for ongoing protection. I didn't trust them before the breach - I sure as hell don't trust them now.
iarnell is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2017, 10:40 pm
  #10  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
mrken30's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
Posts: 7,425
mrken30 has a reputation beyond reputemrken30 has a reputation beyond reputemrken30 has a reputation beyond reputemrken30 has a reputation beyond reputemrken30 has a reputation beyond reputemrken30 has a reputation beyond reputemrken30 has a reputation beyond reputemrken30 has a reputation beyond reputemrken30 has a reputation beyond reputemrken30 has a reputation beyond reputemrken30 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

How do I put a credit freeze on my UK credit accounts? I have seen very little in the UK press on what to do.
mrken30 is offline  
Old Sep 13th 2017, 12:33 pm
  #11  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Athens GA
Posts: 2,132
MidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

Originally Posted by mrken30
How do I put a credit freeze on my UK credit accounts? I have seen very little in the UK press on what to do.
I don't think you can if you are not resident in the UK. When I first moved to the US I had problems with several attempts to open UK credit accounts in my name. I never did find a way of freezing my UK credit record.
MidAtlantic is offline  
Old Sep 14th 2017, 2:29 am
  #12  
BE Forum Addict
 
zzrmark's Avatar
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Location: Lauren's Co. SC by way of Palmetto, Florida
Posts: 3,265
zzrmark has a reputation beyond reputezzrmark has a reputation beyond reputezzrmark has a reputation beyond reputezzrmark has a reputation beyond reputezzrmark has a reputation beyond reputezzrmark has a reputation beyond reputezzrmark has a reputation beyond reputezzrmark has a reputation beyond reputezzrmark has a reputation beyond reputezzrmark has a reputation beyond reputezzrmark has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

Originally Posted by mrken30
How do I put a credit freeze on my UK credit accounts? I have seen very little in the UK press on what to do.
Blow your card limits and fail to make repayments. I can guarantee you that your credit lines will be frozen and nobody will be opening credit in your name!!
zzrmark is offline  
Old Sep 14th 2017, 12:34 pm
  #13  
Account Closed
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
ian-mstm has a reputation beyond reputeian-mstm has a reputation beyond reputeian-mstm has a reputation beyond reputeian-mstm has a reputation beyond reputeian-mstm has a reputation beyond reputeian-mstm has a reputation beyond reputeian-mstm has a reputation beyond reputeian-mstm has a reputation beyond reputeian-mstm has a reputation beyond reputeian-mstm has a reputation beyond reputeian-mstm has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Victims of identity theft while non-citizen?

Originally Posted by zzrmark
Blow your card limits and fail to make repayments. I can guarantee you that your credit lines will be frozen and nobody will be opening credit in your name!!


Ian
ian-mstm is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.