The 'evil twin' syndrome

College senior Brad Brown has been eyeing the cherry red Land Rover on your lot for three months. He knows what he's willing to pay, and he already decided which warranties to buy. There's just one obstacle keeping Brad from the car of his dreams – his terrible credit. No problem! Brad's older brother, Brandon, can help. After retrieving Brandon's Social Security card, driver's license and insurance information from his wallet, Brad is ready to buy a car – and he's headed for your dealership.

Don't be fooled by people like Brad. To avoid fraud, ask yourself the following questions about each deal:

1. Does the customer's application information differ from the data in the credit bureau file?
   Compare the following:
   • Name (Many identity thefts occur between family members. Watch for subtle name differences, such as "Jared Jenkins Jr." and "Jared Jenkins Sr.")
   • Social Security number
   • Date of birth
   • Address
2. Does the customer's pay stub information (name, Social Security number, date of birth and address) coincide with his or her application and credit file?
3. Take a look at the date the credit file was created. Does it seem unreasonable given the customer's age? For example, a 35-year-old woman cannot have 40 years of credit history.
4. Does the credit file list multiple names for a specified Social Security number? Other than marriage/divorce name changes, multiple names are suspicious.
5. Does the credit file list multiple Social Security numbers for a specified name?
6. Does the credit file show a Social Security number alert or fraud statement?

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, don't let the car leave your lot until the issue is resolved. For further assistance, contact your local AmeriCredit branch.