Importance Of Protecting Your Social Security Number
By: Jason Maxwell
Submitted: 2010-09-05 22:57:44 | Word Count: 523
Everybody has a Social Security number to which every bit of information about a person is tied. All someone has to do is type an SSN into an SSN search site and the subject's bank account number, residence, phone number and other details such dental or criminal records are revealed. While this information is relevant if the one inquiring about you is out to prove your reliability, the danger is when somebody plans to steal your identity through an SSN search. Below are tips so that you can avoid this situation:
Today, we just can't trust anyone because everyone, most likely, wants your SSN. This can be someone who wants to know about your credit rating so that they will know whether you are capable of paying a loan or your bills. Others want to keep track of you by way of name and address changes.
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There are companies that use your SSN to make marketing lists which they could sell to other companies. A listing with these numbers is more important than a list without them.
The higher the number of persons who see your SSN, the more vulnerable you are to identity theft, that is, somebody posing as you by using your name and credit rating to embezzle money.
Billions are lost by American businesses to identity theft each year. But the consumers will shoulder the costs.
There are certain business establishments who ask for your SSN but there are certain agencies that really demand for it. Tax departments, welfare departments or motor vehicle departments are some of these agencies that demand your SSN. You are also required to disclose your SSN when you do transactions that involve taxes like banks, brokerages, employers and many more. But majority of business institutions have no legal right to ask for your social security number. Though there are still no regulations that regulate them, you still hold the decision. You can ask if they accept other identification cards. If they insist, then refrain from doing any business with them. Remember, it's also possible that they would refuse to provide the product or service that you are seeking.
Chances are, a good number of companies that routinely ask for an SSN will agree to do business with you even if you refrain from providing them the number. There are businesses who ask for a Social security number so that consumers can open an account but the information is not really required. It will be used only as part of the customer's record.
Some companies follow an operating procedure if people refuse to give their SSN. They ask them to fill out a questionnaire to find out their payment history. No need for credit checks. They just bank on a person's honesty.
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There remain legitimate reasons for SSN checks. If you must run one, start with a social security name search. If you just need basic details about the person such as telephone numbers or addresses, a free ssn search should be enough. But for more in-depth information, you may have to upgrade to a paid service.
