Identity Theft Tied To Illegal Immigration

These are just some of the fake ID's seized from alleged illegal immigrants by Loxley Police over the last five years. The undocumented sometimes need flimsy forgeries to get jobs.

“In order to be paid they're going to have to have some type of social security number, cash checks, things like that from their unemployment,” says Loxley Police Lt. Doug Phillips. Most are found through simple traffic stops. Getting a fake id seems relatively easy; websites selling them warn buyers these are for entertainment only. While they are fraudulent the forgeries are getting better.

“It's a lot easier to reproduce some of the security features and things, laser copiers, holograms, things of that nature,” says Phillips. Some illegal immigrants make up social security numbers rather than using a real one. I spoke with managers at several Hispanic businesses in Baldwin County--while most said they knew someone with fake documents no one wanted to talk on camera.