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If Asked For Social Security Number, Keep These 3 Things In Mind - YouTube
Channel: CBS Pittsburgh
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it's being made now that you're not an
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individual unless you have a social
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security number they were never intended
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to be a universal identifier but now
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that's how social security numbers are
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being used and the use is widespread by
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both government agencies and private
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companies but when you are asked for
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your numbers should you really give it
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out legal editor Julie grant has more
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now new at six born in the 1930s the
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social security number exists on was
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created to track US workers earnings
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history and determine their Social
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Security benefit entitlement supposedly
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it's limitation on use gets thrown right
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out the window within about a decade and
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ever since that time we've done nothing
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but thoroughly abuse now it's being used
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by countless private companies and
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government agencies for anything your
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social security number so it's you know
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everywhere people call you on the phone
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they want your social security number
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nationally recognized fraud expert
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Andrew Richards says the widespread use
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and abuse puts us at an increased risk
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of having our identity stolen anticipate
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the people we're gonna steal it that
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it's going to be abused in some way and
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put up those mechanisms that you can the
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big question do you give it out no I do
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not it depends how bad I need whatever
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it is I'm applying for but I tend to be
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a little bit leery about about it if
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it's not something super important or
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something I absolutely need Richards
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recommends three steps every time you
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are asked for your number just because
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they asked for it doesn't mean you give
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it and not only that doesn't always mean
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you got to give all of the numbers first
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ask yourself who reached out to whom
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normally I don't give it out I mean
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unless I'm like at a reputable place
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like a doctor's office or like I'm at my
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bank or something like that
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be especially leery if they reached out
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to you I would never send it out you
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know especially online
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I don't do anything online there are so
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many job opportunities that are put out
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online that are in fact they're bogus
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the scams and they're looking for your
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identifiers second ask why they need it
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if it's a private company wanting to run
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a credit check for instance you
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always ask if you can pay on a cash
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basis I just don't give out you know
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sometimes they'll ask for your last four
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you know that's that's protocol for some
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things
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third see if their purpose requires your
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fool number if you four digits that's
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the better option but I don't want
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anybody thinking that that is the end
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all to your security if you only give
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out the last four the thing is that with
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other identifiers Z address your date of
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birth your name the last four digits a
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lot of damage can be done without having
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the full social security number banks
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for example will need your full number
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it's required under the Bank Secrecy Act
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you got good credit don't put your name
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not during your number Richard says it's
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critical to check your credit reports
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often by law you are entitled to one
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free report every year from Experian
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Equifax and TransUnion parents request
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and review them for your children to the
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uptick on the theft of Social Security
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numbers of children is starting to occur
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because they're a clean slate and
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finally be sure to set up fraud alerts
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on all of your credit cards
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remember once you give your social
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security number to a company it is in
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their system you just can't ask them to
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then go delete it it is archived forever
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and Susan and Stacey I just can't stress
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the importance of checking those credit
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reports often so that you can catch this
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kind of activity
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most people don't find out about
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identity theft until it is way too late
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yeah you would think with stealing a
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child's Social Security number that's
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his birth date would sort of give it
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away when a company was checking you
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know that yes doesn't match up
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yes exactly Susan you would think so you
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would think somebody would catch that
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but these scammers they are so slick we
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talked to Andrew Richards about this and
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what they do is they'll just alter the
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year on the date of birth so they'll
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have all the other identifiers is
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matching up the child's name the address
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the date of birth the month and all that
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but just that ever so slight change and
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then if a company isn't careful they'll
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permit that line of credit to go through
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and then the fraud just perpetuates from
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there on out all right Julie thanks so
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much thanks Julie
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