The court LOST my citizenship certificate

[doubleNN]

Here's my crazy story...I got my citizenship and had to attend a court ceremony since I changed my name. During my naturalization ceremony, in front of the federal judge, the clerk gave my naturalization certificate to someone else...they got paperclipped together.
My certificate is missing, they're issuing me a new one; however my main concern is that someone, somewhere has my certificate and will probably use it. Should I just get a lawyer?

 

[howdy_howdy]

Your photo is glued to the certificate; so no one can use it other than yourself. Consider it to be your DL. Do you think someone can use your DL?

Here's my crazy story...I got my citizenship and had to attend a court ceremony since I changed my name. During my naturalization ceremony, in front of the federal judge, the clerk gave my naturalization certificate to someone else...they got paperclipped together.
My certificate is missing, they're issuing me a new one; however my main concern is that someone, somewhere has my certificate and will probably use it. Should I just get a lawyer?

 

[Al Southner]

Your photo is glued to the certificate; so no one can use it other than yourself. Consider it to be your DL. Do you think someone can use your DL?

It is "glued", which is the operational word there. It can be unglued and someone else's picture inserted and glued too....lol!!! It is big business to steal US naturalization certificate and if the person who receive the additional certificate knows the underground identify theft gangs, she just made about $2-4K for the certificate. I attended an oath ceremony in which the USCIS warned people to safeguard their certificates because they can see for 10K in South America...

 

[Al Southner]

Your photo is glued to the certificate; so no one can use it other than yourself. Consider it to be your DL. Do you think someone can use your DL?

It is "glued", which is the operational word there. It can be unglued and someone else's picture inserted and glued too....lol!!! It is big business to steal US naturalization certificate and if the person who receive the additional certificate knows the underground identify theft gangs, she just made about $2-4K for the certificate. I attended an oath ceremony in which the USCIS warned people to safeguard their certificates because they can see for 10K in South America...

 

[doubleNN]

Your photo is glued to the certificate; so no one can use it other than yourself. Consider it to be your DL. Do you think someone can use your DL?

I think people can forge anything and yes, I do know you can sell one for a lot of money...
I'm picking up my new certificate tomorrow. I just have a bad feeling about this whole situation.

 

[Al Southner]

Just hope the person who accidentally received your naturalization certificate is a moral person, will return it to USCIS. Also, find out if they cancelled the OLD LOST NATURALIZATION certificate to prevent potential fraud later. For example, if you lose your passport, you can cancel it and won't be valid and whoever finds it, is going to be busted for attempting to use it. Since the naturalization certificate itself is worthless without applying for a US passport, whoever buys it, won't be able to gain any benefit as long as USCIS flag it in their system, which Dept of State checks before issuing any passport. Just find out if USCIS has gone an extra step to protect your identity. Good luck to you...