Almost 70K ‘questionable’ Social Security numbers used for $5.4B in pandemic-related loans: watchdog

The Hill ^ | 01-31-2023 | LAUREN SFORZA

[ChicagoConservative27]

A pandemic watchdog group identified nearly 70,000 “questionable” Social Security numbers that were used to obtain $5.4 billion in pandemic-related federal loans.

The group, The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, issued the report on Monday that analyzed information from more than 33 million applications from the COVID-19 Emergency Injury Disaster Loans and the Paycheck Protection Program. The committee found that more than 221,000 Social Security numbers used on applications were “not issued” by the federal government, or did not match the applicants name or date of birth.

Despite the risk for identity fraud, the federal government awarded nearly 70,000 of the 221,000 Social Security numbers flagged for potential identity fraud a loan or a grant. About 175,000 of the Social Security numbers that were flagged for potential identity fraud attempted to receive a loan or grant, but were unsuccessful, according to the report.

[ChicagoConservative27]

But but health care should be run by government!! (s)

[FoxInSocks]

Despite the risk for identity fraud, the federal government awarded nearly 70,000 of the 221,000 Social Security numbers flagged for potential identity fraud a loan or a grant. About 175,000 of the Social Security numbers that were flagged for potential identity fraud attempted to receive a loan or grant, but were unsuccessful, according to the report.

By government standards, catching 2 out of 3 is probably considered a tremendous success.

[oldguy1776]

Too bad they can’t use the same due diligence to flag the fake or stolen social security numbers the illegals use. Nah...we can’t discriminate against those poor undocumented migrants...or whatever polite name we are referring them as....that would be mean.

[unixfox]

70,000 will be chicken feed compared to what the millions of ILLEGALS will do. They haven’t even got started.

[fwdude]

Every SS number should be paired with a secret 6-digit PIN to be valid. No correct PIN? no go.

[z3n]

These are not kids being clever in their parents basements. These are highly effective clandestine grifters... at best. IMO more likely professional laundering. To ante up the conspiracy even more, I would suggest it was all part of the intent from the beginning.

The same types of people (if not more strongly associated) who rig elections and run ballot harvesting and mule distribution.

/tin foil hat off

[SteelPSUGOP]

The government should get out of the business of helping people because THEY SUCK AT IT.

[TStro]

I worked with Mexicans in Texas (asbestos abatement workers/supervisors) who said they went to a place in Dallas that sold SS cards, drivers licenses, professional licenses over the counter. The border patrol picked up and deported a crew in San Angelo (workers and supervisor) and deported them. I had worked with them in Amarillo before that and they could really prepare containment and remove the asbestos quickly.
A friend brought a picture of the sign in the front window advertising some of the licenses they offered.

[Vaduz]

With that many Social Security numbers I wager the theft is still gong on all over the place they are a gold mine for cons.

[aimhigh]

I’ll bet most of it ended up at the DNC.

[ridesthemiles]

Obama used a So Sec number for years that was issued to a man born in 1896 in Connecticut.

That number was issued to him in 1936.

Obama born in 1961.

[Teflonic]

The great Covid rip off: US government dished out $5.4BILLION in aid to almost 70,000 small businesses using bogus social security numbers during the pandemic, watchdog finds

[lepton]

If they can’t even give the correct name and date of birth, there’s no basis for having issued the funds. That’s pretty close to knowingly giving out funds fraudulently, and almost undoubtedly crosses that line.