Usually it's not the company that pays. The company just says "turn up with an SSN" and then other people who already work there put the new employee in touch w

Usually it's not the company that pays. The company just says "turn up with an SSN" and then other people who already work there put the new employee in touch with someone who deals in them. I've heard it cost 200-250$ for one. But that way the company has plausible deniability, and its the worker who is the "identity thief". A lot of the stuff is done on word of mouth, by compatriots just looking to help each other out.