Does using a fake SSN hurt an american citizen?

Many prominent undocumenteds like Jose Antonio Vargas work by using a fake SSN -- presumably someone else's SSN for it to be valid. Tons of people have been doing this with impunity for years.

My question is: does this hurt the American citizen who belongs to that SSN? I would have to imagine it does; it must screw up their tax returns with the IRS, credit reporting, and other things. How can someone like Vargas in good conscious do such a thing? It is identity theft, essentially, but I have seen dreamers on here admit to using one as if it were not a big deal and some asking how to obtain one.

What do you make of this? Is it right or wrong?

It does affect the person who actually owns that SSN. But you also have to remember that there's also cases where people use fake SSN that don't even exist. In those cases, the federal government just turns a blind eye cause the social security withholdings go unclaimed by the non-existent SSN.

As far as I know, Jose Antonio Vargas is NOT using a fake SSN. He has his own corporation and pays taxes. Why do you post a potentially libelous thing like that? And yes, it's wrong to mess with someone's life without permission either by using the SSN or lying about them online.

Not sure about Vargas' current situation but it is well-known he used fake documents in the past -- he himself has admitted such (his grandparents purchased them for him). He has also admitted to doctoring an SSN card and lying about his status (on paper, I mean).

Not judging -- just putting it out there to clarify.

Having a fake ID is quite different than using someone else's SSN for employment without permission so let's not mix the two together. In the interviews I've seen of him, he said he works for himself as an independent contractor and pays taxes - likely with an ITN.

When Vargas applied to the Washington Post to work as a journalist, he utilized a fake SSN -- knowingly. He has also worked for San Francisco Chronicle, Huffington Post, and a newpaper in Philadelphia. This is all recent stuff...

Do you ever research stuff before posting ? He doctored his legit SSN card by putting a sticker where it said something.

Actually before anyone else post. Please read his story

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/ma...anted=all&_r=0


Regarding your poor researched question. As long as your filing taxes either with a fake ssn or itin. The government doesn't care. My sister entered with out inspection , worked using a fake ssn. And was naturalized as a citizenship last year. Using a ssn was the government least worries and when they interview her , they cared more about her being caught twice by border patrol than using an a ssn. Actually I don't think they ever even question her using a fake ssn

It wasn't fake at all. It was real but had a sticker covering info about his ssn

li·bel
ˈlībəl/Submit
noun
noun: libel; plural noun: libels
1.
LAW
a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.
synonyms: defamation, defamation of character, character assassination, calumny, misrepresentation, scandalmongering; More
the action or crime of publishing a false statement about a person.
"a councilor who sued two national newspapers for libel"
a false and malicious statement about a person.
a thing or circumstance that brings undeserved discredit on a person by misrepresentation.
2.
(in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) a plaintiff's written declaration.
verb
verb: libel; 3rd person present: libels; past tense: libelled; past participle: libelled; gerund or present participle: libelling; past tense: libeled; past participle: libeled; gerund or present participle: libeling
1.
LAW
defame (someone) by publishing a libel.
"she alleged the magazine had libeled her"
synonyms: defame, malign, slander, blacken someone's name, sully someone's reputation, speak ill/evil of, traduce, smear, cast aspersions on, drag someone's name through the mud, besmirch, tarnish, taint, tell lies about, stain, impugn someone's character/integrity, vilify, denigrate, disparage, run down, stigmatize, discredit, slur; More
make a false and malicious statement about.
2.
(in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) bring a suit against (someone).
Origin

Ok; that's very fraudulent. He also said he falsified employment documents and used an invalid SSN card. This seems really bad, to me. He defrauded the companies in an illegal way, and insodoing, could have made those companies (and their employees) liable for his illegitimacy. I just don't think this kind of stuff is cool.