Social Security Numbers: The Real Story:
If you’ve been keeping up with this blog at all, you know that identity thieves love Social Security numbers. The SSN alone is considered by thieves to be the Golden Key to the Palace. They can use them to open accounts, get passports, and even obtain a drivers license. How wonderful! But did you know why this number has become so versatile, and that it was never intended to be this way?
How the SSN became the universal number to use to identify people was simply because it was a cost saving measure. It began simply as a way to track a person’s earnings and Social Security benefits when the program started in the 1930s. It was a no brainer for the IRS to start using it as an identifier to track how much money a person made. Since the number was tied to salary statistics, employers began using it to easily keep track of employees. Then the military caught on and started using it too, and so on and so forth. Now you need it for everything from job applications to daycare registration sheets. Or do you?
In a lot of cases, you can refuse to give out your SSN and insist that the person asking for it accepts another type of identification. First, ask the individual why he or she needs the information. A lot of times, another item will be just as good, such as a passport or a driver’s license. If you’re starting your own business, you don’t even need to use your SSN. You can instead apply for an Employer Identification Number, or EIN. That way, if you end up hiring people, your Social Security number will not come up on your payroll records.
When anyone asks for your SSN, you are within your rights to question it. It could save you from being a victim of identity theft – whether it is the intention of the organization or it is due to a data breach. Guard that golden number closely. It is only your vigilance that will truly protect you from identity theft.
