Your Social Security Number is the most important number that American citizens carry. It is also tied to vital information such as banking and mortgage records. Many people think that they will never be a victim of identity theft but let us look at five ways that these thieves can steal your Social Security number:

1. By theft of your mail, wallet, or purse, any of which may contain credit card information, tax statements, and other such items that could provide identity thieves with your Social Security number.
2. Internet theft of personal information you have provided to an unsecured website”information such as that found in personnel data and business statements, or information of a more personal nature which you have provided from your residence.
3. Looking through your trash (whether at home or at the workplace) for the data that will help thieves steal your identity.
4. Engaging in telephone or email fraud to fool people into believing they are making a legitimate request, such as may be made by, say, a landlord or an employer.
5. Buying from a dishonest store employee the information found on your application for credit or other items offered by the store.

Therefore, the primary way to stop identity theft is always be cautious about using your Social Security number. Showing your card to a new employer to ensure accurate records is a reasonable use of your Social Security number, as is providing it to a financial institution for purposes of reporting your taxes. Otherwise, it is suggested that you store anything that contains your SSN in a secure place. It is not advisable to carry on your person any documents that reveal your SSN.

What to Do if Your Social Security Number has been Stolen

If you believe someone may be using your SSN, whether by accident or by design, be sure and report your suspicions to us. We will then check the accuracy of your records. You might also want to look over the earnings that are posted to your Social Security Statement (Form SSA-7005). The statement is mailed annually to workers over twenty-four years of age. One may also request a Social Security Statement online or by phone using our 800 number.

You may suspect that an identity thief is causing the credit troubles you are experiencing. If so, contact the Federal Trade Commission for identity theft advice or by calling 1-877-438-4338 (1-877-IDTHEFT)”TTY-1-866-653-4261. These problems can’t be solved by Social Security.

Also, we suggest that you keep track of your credit report. You will find no-cost credit reporting at oursite.

Federal law (42 USC 405 (c)(2)(C)(v) and (i)) allows tax, welfare, DMV agencies, among others, to make a requirement of your social security number. Some others might cause you to think you must provide your Social Security number simply by asking you for it. The truth is, some agencies are not permitted under the federal law cited above to require your Social Security number.

The Privacy Act of 1974 addresses this issue. It requires any stage agency”whether local, state, or federal”to have a “disclosure statement” on the form they are using to require your SSN. That statement should tell whether or not your SSN is a requirement and should explain its intended use, and the authority under which the number is being called for (5 USC 552a). Both the United States Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs can provide information about the Privacy Act of 1974. That act can be found in full-text at the United States Department of Justice website.

Privacy Act says very clearly that citizens will not be denied a service or benefit offered by the government when they refuse to give the government the requested SSN”unless disclosing the Social Security number is a requirement of federal law or the agency requesting the number is one that has been using Social Security numbers since before the Privacy Act became effective (1975). These aren’t, however, the only exceptions. You may go to on the web and see Justice Department’s explanation of these exceptions to these Social Security disclosure rules.

How to Deal with Social Security Disclosure Requests

If asked by an agency of the government to provide your SSN without a disclosure statement, citizens are advised to make a formal complaint to that agency, citing the Privacy Act of 1974. Although no penalty will be exacted, complaining to your congressman (or woman) or senator is also suggested.

Important to know is that there is also a more recent program, the Federal Parent Locator Service, together with its subset, the National Directory of New Hires, which was created by the federal government to help local government agencies find parents who are seeking to avoid their child support responsibilities. This program was also created to locate children whose parents have kidnapped them, or to resolve any child custody issue.

As you may already have surmised, this program requires no consent when an SSN is needed. Such programs as this are clearly beneficial, yet the databases involved hold the potential for ill use by people with dubious intent.