Fake rumor spreads about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's credit score, bank accounts

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has attracted a ton of attention since her swearing-in earlier this month, with fake quotes being attributed or criticism for her dance moves in college.

Now, after securing a seat on the House Financial Services Committee, the internet is calling her personal money management into question.

A Facebook post, which appeared on Jan. 16, has been shared over 28,000 times and generated nearly 2,000 comments. We also found that several other versions of the claim have been spread across the internet with no sourcing or any sort of evidence.

The post in full says: "Congresswoman Cortez, from New York City, has been selected to be on the house finance committee, her credit score is 430 and has had two checking accounts closed, along with two sheriff evictions."

It was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)

We reached out to the author of the Facebook post for evidence but did not receive a response.  

We found no information that chronicles or supports the notion that Ocasio-Cortez had multiple checking accounts closed or was ever evicted. From many in-depth profiles written about her over the past year, we know she helped support her family by working multiple jobs, and that she has been criticized by some for not having significant-enough savings, but nothing comes close to this rumor.

Moreover, a person’s credit score cannot be obtained without their written consent, according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, so it is unlikely the rumor’s originator was granted access to that information.

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Our search of public records databases turned up no mention of an eviction, or any other property or housing problems involving law enforcement (nor were there any judgments, liens or bankruptcies).

According to her April 2018 financial disclosure report, the only liability listed was one federal student loan.

"No this is not true, no her credit score is not 430 and she does not have any sheriff evictions," Ocasio-Cortez’s spokesperson told us.  

While Ocasio-Cortez has had to work two jobs in the past to help support her family and currently has one student loan, there is no evidence to support she has ever been evicted, has had bank accounts closed or has a low credit score.

We rate this claim Pants on Fire!

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2019-01-23 16:55:42 UTC

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Pants on Fire

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has secured a seat on the House Financial Services Committee but her "credit score is 430 and has had two checking accounts closed, along with two sheriff's evictions."

Facebook posts

on the internet

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

2019-01-16

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