Business Identity Theft??

[ekorB]

In order to avoid having to use a bank that I owe money to, I decided that it would be better to just open another account at another bank. So when I go in to this new bank, they run my EIN. The banker told me that my EIN was used by a lady in Missouri to open an account at a Bank of America just last month. It's funny because I already have an account with this EIN. So, I'm not sure why this didn't get caught when she opened her account.

I've checked my tax returns from last year and my EIN is correct. My question is, what company can I call to check on this? Is an EIN the same as a SSN? Can I check my credit report with this? I went to Experian I didn't see a place to check via EIN's.

[Flamingo]

Go to:

http://www.ssa.gov/oig/public_fraud_reporting/instructions.htm

A simple web search of "Employer Identification Number Fraud" will give you hundreds of links for help. Best of luck to you.

[JRScott]

Hope you get this sorted out mate.

[ekorB]

Thanks guys! I've submitted a complaint via the link you provided Flamingo. I'm not sure why I couldn't find that myself last night when I was out hunting. I was doing my search on EIN fraud.

[ekorB]

I just realized that the amount of numbers in an EIN and in a SSN are the same. I wonder, could it be that when the banker called Chexsystems, the banker failed to tell them that the number he was asking them to check was an EIN and NOT a SSN. So basically I'm wondering if my EIN matches someone's SSN, hence, the mix up?...hmmm.

[Flamingo]

The first three digits of a SS number identifies the person as to in which state they obtained the SS number or in which he/she was born. EIN's coded differently to separate them as to identify a business. It could be anything from full blown identity theft to a mistake made when the account was open. You will eventually find out.

[ekorB]

I called BOFA and spoke to their business checking department. The lady stated that the EIN I provided them was not listed in any of their systems. So that led me to think that the bank that I started to open the new account at may have made a mistake.

I also checked the first three digits in my EIN on google. According to this site: http://socialsecuritynumerology.com/prefixes.php, the 208 prefix belongs to Pennsylvania.

Of course when I called the bank back, the bank rep that was helping me is out to lunch....waiting on the call back. :-)

[allavdj]

My mom used to do machine quilting. About 3 years ago she started getting bills and things from a company that sells fabric and such. Turns out some lady in Oklahoma was using my moms EIN so she could buy her supplies wholesale. I don't know what happened to the lady, but my mom spent about a week getting it straightened out and got a few extra gray hairs in the process.

[ekorB]

Well the bank rep confirmed through Chexsystems, that the fraudulant activity reported by BOFA was of a person who used my EIN as their SSN. He provided me with a name and address of the person. Funny thing is..the person who is using my EIN is in the same state as me. Now I've got to get the SS Admin to clear my name...This is gonna be fun! :-|

[Delighted4]

Identity Theft Protection

You also might want to get identity theft protection such as Lifelock $9 a month/$99 year. I am so sorry that happened to you. I received mine from www.CreditRepair707.com. It is worth it. Another good reference is the FTC.org (Federal Trade Commission). Good luck.