article_snippet: it means there are millions of Social Security numbers which are still active, so a number could be used to report wages, open bank accounts, obtain credit cards or claim fraudulent tax refunds.
article_snippet: When you have a fake Social Security number, that's what allows you to fraudulently do all kinds things, claim things like the earned income tax credit or other tax benefits.'
article_snippet: The internal watchdog's report does not document any fraudulent or improper payments to people using these Social Security numbers - but The internal watchdog's report raises red flags that The internal watchdog's report could be happening.
article_snippet: For example, nearly 67,000 of the Social Security numbers were used to report more than $3billion in wages, tips and self-employment income from 2006 to 2011, according to The internal watchdog's report.
article_snippet: One Social Security number was used 613 different times, while 194 numbers were used at least 50 times each.
article_snippet: Illegal immigrants often use fake or stolen Social Security numbers to get jobs and report wages, as do other people who do not want to be found by the government, and thieves are known to use stolen Social Security numbers to claim fraudulent tax refunds.
article_snippet: The IRS estimated The IRS paid out $5.8billion in fraudulent tax refunds in 2013 because of identity theft.