Secret money just for you? It’s tempting, but it’s not true. No matter what you might see on the Internet or hear someplace else, you don’t have a secret account at the Federal Reserve that can be used to pay bills. And if you try it, you run the risk of identity theft or getting hit with past-due fees. It works something like this: Scammers tell consumers they have a ‘secret’ account or Social Security trust account at a Fed bank and they can use that money for bills – all you have to do is share your Social Security number so you can be given the correct Fed routing number to use. The problem is, there’s no such thing – and sharing your Social Security number with the wrong person can lead to identity theft. The Fed does not have accounts for consumers – only banks can bank there. So don’t fall for the bait. By giving someone else your Social Security number, it could be used to try to take out a loan or get personal information about you. If you trying using a fake account like this you could get stuck with late fees on your bills – because there is nothing to pay them with. Don’t ever share financial account or Social Security numbers with anyone unless you’re sure it’s necessary. So, don’t fall for the secret account scam. It really is too good to be true. Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters. In David Corn’s piece this morning, Rep. Bob Inglis told a story about meeting up with some constituents who earnestly regaled him about the sinister origins of the number on the back of your Social Security card. “That number indicates the bank that bought you when you were born based on a projection of your life’s earnings,” they told him. Good times. But it got me wondering: what number on the back of your Social Security card? I haven’t owned a physical Social Security card for decades, so I couldn’t check. Luckily, Marian is more conscientious than I am and managed to dig hers up. Sure enough, there’s a number on the back. But what’s it for? To my disappointment, a Google search didn’t turn up much. However, I did run across a blog post that recounted a few interesting tidbits about Social Security numbers. Interesting, but not what I was looking for.
At this point, as you can see, it’s actually getting kind of pathetic. These stories always seem pretty silly, but there are plenty of bottom feeders who prey on the kind of people who believe this stuff. But of course, I don’t want to leave you without the answer. What is the number on the back of your Social Security card? Here’s the answer:
And a bit more detail from a speech by Donald Walton, a U.S. bankruptcy trustee, on eight “key signs that can identify a subject social security card as either legitimate or fraudulent.” Here’s #7:
Of course, he would say that, wouldn’t he? He’s probably a bankruptcy trustee for the Bilderbergers. |