Identity Theft
And Your Social
Security Number
Identity Theft And Your
Social Security Number
2
Identity theft is one of the fastest
growing crimes in America. A dishon-
est person who has your Social Security
number can use it to get other personal
information about you. Identity thieves
can use your number and your good
credit to apply for more credit in your
name. Then, they use the credit cards
and do not pay the bills. You may not
find out that someone is using your
number until you are turned down for
credit or you begin to get calls from
unknown creditors demanding payment
for items you never bought.
Someone illegally using your Social
Security number and assuming your
identity can cause a lot of problems.
Your number is confidential
The Social Security Administration
protects your Social Security number
and keeps your records confidential.
We do not give your number to anyone,
except when authorized by law. You
should be careful about sharing your
number, even when you are asked for
it. You should ask why your number is
needed, how it will be used and what
will happen if you refuse. The answers
to these questions can help you decide
w w w . s o c i a l s e c u r i t y . g o v
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if you want to give out your Social
Security number.
How might someone steal
your number?
Identity thieves get your personal
information by:
Stealing wallets, purses and your mail
•
(bank and credit card statements, pre-
approved credit offers, new checks and
tax information);
Stealing personal information you
•
provide to an unsecured site on the
Internet, from business or personnel
records at work and personal infor-
mation in your home;
Rummaging through your trash, the
•
trash of businesses and public trash
dumps for personal data;
Posing by phone or E-mail as someone
•
who legitimately needs information
about you, such as employers or
landlords; or
Buying personal information from
•
“inside” sources. For example,
an identity thief may pay a store
employee for information