Social Security numbers (SSNs) are among the most widely used forms of identification in the United States. You use them to get everything from a driver’s license to a credit card. For that reason, protecting your Social Security number is extremely important.
Particularly with the expansion of the Internet and the growth of sophisticated computer systems, identity theft in the United States has skyrocketed. A U.S. Department of Justice study concluded that in 2012, identity theft accounted for about $24.7 billion in losses. That’s nearly double the $14 billion in other property crimes. Another analysis suggests that one in three Americans has been the victim of identity fraud. Bureau of Justice Statistics report that in 2014, 17.6 million U.S. residents experienced identity theft.
Many college students are victims of identity theft, partly because they are at the age when they start to obtain credit cards. Also, the practice of having grades posted by Social Security number is one way in which their identity is often stolen. This gives thieves a list of valid SSNs they can exploit.
All of these statistics suggest the importance of protecting your identity, particularly your Social Security number. The SSA and other organizations have many suggestions about the best ways to do this. Here are a few:
There’s no reason at all for you to carry your Social Security card around in your wallet. It can be stolen; you could lose your wallet or leave it somewhere. Your Social Security card is extremely important, and you should not treat it carelessly.
Leave it at home, preferably somewhere safe and secure where you keep other important documents. To keep it really safe, rent a safe-deposit box at your bank and store the card there.
There are a relatively limited number of circumstances in which you will have to provide your Social Security number to anyone. If you open a bank account or are applying for a credit card, you’ll be asked for it. But there’s no reason for most people to know it or want to know it. It’s not uncommon for various retailers to ask for the last four digits of your SSN; but be cautious about giving out the full number.
This is a widespread scam that particularly targets elderly people. Your phone rings, and the voice on the other end says he’s from your bank. He informs you that there’s been some questionable activity in your account. So far, this all sounds normal. This kind of thing happens, and usually the bank will (assuming the suspicious transactions are unauthorized) void your debit/credit card and issue you a new one. But this time, the friendly voice on the other end of the line asks you to “confirm” your account by giving him your Social Security number and your bank account number. Don’t do it. The bank doesn’t need either of those pieces of information from you. If you’re still worried, stop by a branch of the bank and ask the bank manager about the phone call.
A huge amount (though not all) of identity theft takes place through the Internet. All of us are so connected, through our smartphones, laptops, and all our other devices that we tend to grow careless about protecting important information like our Social Security numbers.
If a website address begins with https:// (as opposed to http://; the letter s is the key here), that indicates that it’s a secured site. You should still be cautious about giving out your SSN, but at least on a secured site you will be relatively safe from identity theft.
In general, it’s a good idea not to click on websites unless you have some idea of what they are. Many scammers set up websites that look as if they are legitimate.
The same thing goes for e-mail. If you receive an e-mail from someone you don’t know and with a subject line you don’t recognize, delete it rather than open it. Many such e-mails are designed to steal your personal information, including your Social Security number.
Identity thieves look for documents that contain your Social Security number. With all the stuff that comes in the mail for you, it’s not surprising that some of it will have information that identity thieves find valuable. You can deny them access to this sort of information by running your billing receipts, credit card offers, and so on through a shredder. Shredders are cheap, and you can pick one up at your local office supplies store.
An extremely common online scam technique is called “phishing.” Here’s how it works: You receive a piece of unsolicited e-mail. It might appear to come from somewhere you know (your bank, for instance); or it might be an enticement that offers you something for nothing (“Click here for thousands of dollars in free quality merchandise!”). If you click on the link and go to the site, you’ll be asked to put in various bits of information—your password, your SSN, your address, and so on. The owners of the site want you to give them as much information as possible so they can steal your identity. A good rule of thumb is to be suspicious of unsolicited e-mails and avoid sites with which you’re not familiar. And be wary of great offers. If something sounds too good to be true—it probably is.
If, despite your best precautions, you think your Social Security number has been stolen, then you need to take immediate action to prevent serious damage from happening to your accounts and your credit. You should:
After doing this, carefully monitor your bank account and credit card accounts. Keep up the monitoring for several months to make sure there’s no unauthorized activity. If there is, report it immediately to your bank and the appropriate credit card companies.
The tinfoil hat crowd on the Internet has spread some strange rumors over the years about Social Security numbers. Foremost among these is the idea that your SSN contains information that identify you to the government. In particular, it’s said that the middle two numbers indicate your race. This is untrue. The first three digits are an Area number; the second two are a Group number; and the last four are a Serial number. There are no hidden codes or meanings in any of this.
Your Social Security number is deeply important to maintaining your identity as a U.S. citizen. Never be careless with it.