Man Trying To Buy Car Finds Out 9/11 Terrorist Took ID

KETV ^ | 4/21/04 | N/A

[swilhelm73]

A young man went in to buy a car and realized he had been mistakenly identified as a terrorist.

Ryan Allen (pictured, left), 19, turned up on a government list that includes Osama bin Laden and members of al-Qaida.

Allen wanted to buy a new Chevrolet Cavalier. He filled out the paperwork at a Kansas City dealership and then the results of the credit bureau check came back.

"I filled out the credit thing. I'm probably sitting there an hour ... hour and a half," Allen said.

But the dealership's manager came back with what Allen thought was an odd question.

"'Have you ever been to Yemen?' I go, 'No,'" Allen said.

That was enough to pique Allen's curiosity. Apparently when Allen's Social Security number was entered in the computer, it came up as Ramzi Bin al-Shibh (pictured, right), one of the masterminds of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Bin al-Shibh is on a U.S. Treasury list of so-called blocked persons, including terrorists. Financial institutions check this in part to make sure someone opening a bank account is not doing it to fund terrorism.

Allen did not get his new car.

"Granted, I'm glad I found out about it now," Allen said.

Allen is not sure how a terrorist ended up with his Social Security number. He believes it has to do with the fact that his birthday falls on Sept. 11. After talking to the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Treasury, the FBI, lawyers, and local police, Allen said that he is still not sure how to clear his name.

[Iowa Granny]

Poor Fella. This isn't going to be cleared up overnight.

[ValerieUSA]

Birthday on Sept 11 .... hmmm... I wonder if his SS # was hijacked before or after the attack?

[AntiGuv]

...Allen said that he is still not sure how to clear his name.

Get a new social security number.

[johnfrink]

"Allen is not sure how a terrorist ended up with his Social Security number. He believes it has to do with the fact that his birthday falls on Sept. 11."

Woah! It's cause you're a victim of identity theft, dude. Get a clue.

[agent4cia]

Well I imagine if it was done by one of the 9-11 hi-ijackers,it must of been done prior to 9-11. They very well couldn't have done it afterwords as they were dead.

[BigWaveBetty]

ping

[ValerieUSA]

It was to a "mastermind" of the attack, one who is on a wanted list. Not one who carried out the attack and has died.

[Doe Eyes]

Notice how the left wing media doesn't mention when his id was stolen? You can bet it was during Clinton's watch.

[swilhelm73]

I seem to vaguely recall that a woman with a history of ID theft crimes - and ties to the hijackers - was found murdered shortly after 9/11.

Anyone remember that one or what the resultant investigation turned up if anything?

[PokeyJoe]

aha!!

... so that's how they did it!

They publish a code containing many SSN,s - all with unique birth days. When the target(s) & date is selected, they transmit the key - maybe the last four digits, the hijackers go down their code list, find the four digit key. Duh... it's utterly brilliant. Use SSN numbers to encode signals... you could encode target locations, dates of attack, even times of attack - all by using sequence, and SSN numbers. damn... utterly brilliant. ...... You could even encode the key using other codes.... like 3 layers deep.... damn. Now I'm going to go review those old translations.....

[AntiGuv]

My social security number is probably the most secure for any adult in the nation. I've managed to avoid disclosing but one time, ever: to get a driver's license.

It's not easy..

[meatloaf]

That's a laugh. I can tell you never read about SS employees selling lists of names, SS#s and mother's maiden names. They were sold for a buck each. I'm not advocating sharing your SS#. It's just that thieves have more than one way of skinning a cat.

FWIW, never ever use your mother's maiden name for security purposes. Use something bogus that only you know. That way when a thief tries to use your mother's real maiden name to access your credit they're SOL.

[AntiGuv]

That would still not diminish the relative security of my SSN because what you describe would be a threat equally present with all SSNs.. :)

[Vince Ferrer]

So, tell me how you got a job, or bought a house.

[AntiGuv]

I had my SSN changed many years ago (for quite legal and orderly reasons) and have neither started a new job nor bought a new house since, except overseas.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Allen did not get his new car.

Of course he doesn't get his new car. The paperwork is primary; people are secondary. With a "guaranteed-unforgeable-tamper-proof" national ID card, the guy could have executed on the spot.

[AntiGuv]

FWIW, the reasons that I once was so protective of my SSN have long since vanished, but it just so happens that events have worked themselves out such that I still have had no unavoidable request to give it out. Actually, there's a reason for which I'll probably need to give it out again later this year. It happens to have been on my mind because I need to go through my papers soon to find it since I never bothered to memorize the number..

I realize I'm a fairly singular case in this respect. That was my whole point. :)

[Russian Sage]

A young man went in to buy a car and realized he had been mistakenly identified as a terrorist.

A likely story! Lock him up!

[AntiGuv]

Oh, and it does give me a little bit of personal amusement to know that I possess the Holy Grail for identity thiefs.. ;^)