Sweden moves to block example tax number

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The Swedish Tax Authority said it is working to ensure a tax number used for instruction is not given to a real child born Wednesday.

The authority said it took steps after discovering the tax number, 121212-1212, was used by hospitals and clinics to teach healthcare staff how to work different databases, the Swedish news agency TT reported Wednesday.

The agency said it feared a newborn might end up with the number -- which is created from the birth date, 12/12/12, and four additional numbers -- and be confused with fictional patient Tolvan Tolvansson, a name made from "tolv," the Swedish word for "twelve."

"If we hadn't blocked it, a newborn could have ended up with a load of incorrect health information tied to their ID number," Tax Agency spokesperson Ingegerd Widell said.