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 1 Stolen Identity Blocks New Job — Basic Story

A young woman was having trouble getting a credit card. She was rejected many times. Then she applied for a
new job. She was turned down again. Then the reason became clear. She had become the victim of identity
theft. She found out that three different people were using her Social Security number. She discovered this
when she applied for a job at a new Target store.
Some employers are checking credit reports before they hire people. They also use background checks. When
Target checked on the woman's credit history, they found a problem. Target did not hire her. But the law said
that they had to tell her why. They told her she was a fraud risk.
A lawyer who specializes in workplace law said that credit reports help employers hire good people. The
reports help weed out dishonest or unreliable job applicants.
Now the woman knows about her identity theft. She can solve her problem. She must order copies of her credit
reports. The she must make corrections and send them back. A law says that the three major credit bureaus
must give people credit reports for free. They have to do this once per year. Consumers can order these reports
online.
The woman may have some good news. Target told her they would reconsider her for the job. She has to give
them a letter from the Social Security office. The letter should verify who she is. She may be able to get a job
after all.

 2 Stolen Identity Blocks New Job — Full Story

Nineteen-year-old Melissa Goza couldn't figure out why her credit card applications were rejected time and
time again. It only became clear when she was turned down for a new job: she's a victim of identity theft.
"I found out three different people are using my Social Security number," Goza said. She discovered the fraud
after applying for a cashier job at a new Target store.
Target is among a growing number of employers using credit reports or background checks in the hiring
process. At least one credit bureau reported a "high risk fraud alert" linked to Goza's Social Security number.
Target, as required by law, told Goza why her employment application had been rejected.
Sacramento attorney Jennifer Shaw specializes in workplace law and says credit reports are just one more way
employers try to weed out unreliable or dishonest job applicants. "I think we need to be aware that with the way
society is right now, there's more information out there. And that means, unfortunately, there's more information
that can be used against us," said Shaw.
Melissa Goza's dark cloud may, however, have a silver lining. Target told her she'd be reconsidered for the job
after presenting a letter from the Social Security Administration verifying her identity.
Now that Goza knows she's an identity theft victim, she will order copies of her credit reports to make
corrections. The three major credit bureaus are required by federal law to make their reports available at no cost
to consumers once a year through a central website.

 3 background

a person's history

 4 bureaus

offices

 5 consumers

people who buy things or use credit cards

 6 corrections

changes to make something better

 7 dishonest

not truthful

 8 fraud

to lie or use tricks to make money

 9 identity

who a person is

 10 rejected

refused

 11 unreliable

not able to be trusted or counted on

 12 verify

to make sure something is correct

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