Many Utahn's have their social security numbers plastered online for anyone to steal. But it's not a crook posting the numbers; it's the government.
If you own a home in Utah, this could affect you. So ABC 4 put our Taking Action 4 You team on the case.
The call first came to ABC 4 from a Utah man who was bored one day and decided to ‘Google’ himself. He found title papers complete with his address, signature and social security number. It is posted right on his county recorders website for any identity thief to find. So, why won't the recorder take it down?
Taking Action 4 You, ABC 4 combed through thousands of public records.
We found page after page filled with personal information, an identity thief's dream.
Names, addresses, social security numbers, and even signatures, all from people who have owned property in Utah in the last 30 years.
We went door to door and found, not a single person we talked to had any idea their social security number was compromised.
"I don't like it, at all," one homeowner says.
"How can they do that? That's just unbelievable,' says another.
The records we found all came from the Utah County Recorders office.
"Our job is not to save the public from themselves," says Recorder Rodney Campbell.
Campbell is aware of the problem but he says he can't do anything help. State law forbids him covering up the social security numbers on a recorded document.
So we took the issue to State Senator Curtis Bramble.
"Anytime a person's personal social security number is put out into the public domain, it's a concern," Bramble says.
But, Bramble warns what we found is just the tip of the iceberg. He would know. After all, he is both a C.P.A. and a pilot. Fr years, C.P.A.'s had to put their personal social security numbers on tax returns they prepared for other people and a pilot's license number is the same as his or her social. So this issue is keen on Bramble's mind and he assures us it will be addressed.
"Having brought this forward I'm certain this is something we will bring up in the upcoming legislative session."
In the meantime, if you own property in Utah, there is a chance your social security number is exposed and it could be exposed for a while. The legislature does not meet again until January. In the meantime, check and see if your social security number was recorded along with your deed. If it was, you might want to put a freeze on your credit.
