Audit Turns Up Bogus IDs

State Auditor Les Merritt continues to turn up interesting information on state employees by checking their Social Security numbers.

 

On Wednesday, Merritt released two special reviews involving Social Security numbers. A review at the N.C. Department of Justice found that a retired law enforcement officer received pension benefits for 20 months after he died Nov. 14, 2004. The department has since received full repayment of the $20,589 and has put in place a system to make sure it doesn't happen again, the review said.

 

A review of N.C. State University found that one employee was using the Social Security number of a dead person. University officials fired that person after the employee could not obtain a valid Social Security number. Because it involves personnel issues, an NCSU spokesman declined to say whether the employee was an illegal immigrant.

 

The review otherwise praised N.C. State for having a good system to catch irregularities in employees' Social Security numbers.

 

Merritt's office conducted a similar review of N.C. Central University last year, finding that several employees were using Social Security numbers that belonged to dead people. Employees confirmed those cards had been purchased.

 

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