MESA, Ariz. – A local man, an illegal immigrant, was arrested for allegedly buying three houses and two vehicles with loans for $787,000 obtained from a stolen Social Security number.
The scheme was discovered when the suspect went to a credit union, Vantage West CU, and tried to take out a $33,000 loan for a truck, not knowing the Social Security number he was using was that of one of its members, according to police.
The suspect, Adan Guerrero, 36, allegedly was using the credit union member’s Social Security number to obtain loans for more than seven years.
Police said Guerrero started to use the Social Security number before the member turned 18 and he was able to create a ghost account. A ghost account is a second credit score that for some reason does not get traced back to the original.
Guerrero got a hold of his victim's Social Security number when she was 16 or 17 years old and, since she was a minor, was able to create his own identity, according to police.
Police searched Guerrero’s home and found other Social Security cards and believe there may be more victims.
