Do you carry your Social Security Card? Why?

[IwasHere]

I guess I have been watching to many news reports on identity theft lately, but it all looks like it all boils down to 1 thing; Someone getting a hold of your Social Security number.

Most of the reports are about people who have lost their purse or wallet at some point in the previous year. They all claim that they immediately notified their banks and credit card companies and had all their accounts changed. It looks like none of these people had anything ever charged to their cards. 9 months to a year later they started to have warrants served on them for forclosures.

The thieves had stollen their Social Security numbers and received new credit cards, bought new Cars, taken out personal loand, and even managed to buy houses. Some of the people were in debt for over a million dollars. All, because they had lost their Social Security Card.

Years and years ago I lost my wallet and went through this process. New Credit Cards, new Drivers License, and New Social Security Card. I never even thought about trying to have my Social Security number changed to protect myself. Can you even change your Social Security number?

Now, after all this new info I have to ask myself exactly why am I carrying my Social Security card around? I think from now on I am going to keep it locked away with all my other important papers.

[clintl]

I used to until it was pointed out what a bad idea it is to do so.

[st.cronin]

Is that how ss#s get stolen? From ss cards? Or is it from other documents that have the # on it, like tax forms, or pay stubs?

[clintl]

All of the above.

[IwasHere]

Is that how ss#s get stolen? From ss cards? Or is it from other documents that have the # on it, like tax forms, or pay stubs?
Probably both.

The people in the reports all had their wallets or purses stollen though.

[Young Drachma]

I have mine with me, have since my days in the Air Force. Dunno why. I think I even had it when I was younger and just never stopped carrying it.

[st.cronin]

Probably both.

The people in the reports all had their wallets or purses stollen though.

interesting

I always thought that identity theft was a product of the computer age.

[clintl]

Not necessarily. If you've got your driver's license and social security card in the same place, that's pretty much all the information an identity thief needs.

[sabotai]

interesting

I always thought that identity theft was a product of the computer age.

Identity theft is just a new way of labeling good ol' fashioned fraud. Claiming to be someone else to cash checks, charge credit cards, get a loan, etc. has been around for a long, long time. "Identity theft" is just the new catch phrase for it.

[Draft Dodger]

I don't think I've seen my SS card in about 20 years.

[Rizon]

I stropped carrying it because it gets all tore up in my wallet. Plus I have the number memorized anyways.

[stevew]

Well, I know Virginia at least would put your SS number on your card by default. As your SSN would be your DL#, unless you opted for another number.

[Telle]

Don't forget about all the other things in your wallet that could have your SSN on them. My college used the number for your student Id, so it was on that card. My former car insurance used the number for your Id. My former health insurance used the number for your Id. Massachusetts used it as the drivers license number unless you requested otherwise. A lot of places are changing to not using your soc as your id number with them, but it's certainly not universal yet.

[Bee]

I would think that stolen SS cards would be pretty far down on the list of ways people get the SS# stolen.

[SnDvls]

As a victim of ID theft about 4 years ago I know they didn't get it from my wallett or my computer. I don't honestly know how or where they got my info from, but I have two really good ideas. 1) I used to work at a bank and I think a fellow employee may have done it. 2) My SS# was my DL# and being that I worked at a bank we did have to fill our police reports (when the crook was dumb enough to stick around and use his/her real ID) for check fraud, phoney money, ect. and it could have gotten out that way. Lucky for me only one CC was opened in my name, however a cell phone and water delivery were as well. It took over a year to get it fixed not to mention the time and headache it was to call and write businesses and the credit companies.

To answer the top question about changing your SS#

as far as I know you can, but it takes so long and involves so much paperwork and hoops to jump through that it is easier to place a "fraud victim" flag on your credit reports than to try and change it.

[rkmsuf]

meh, what difference does it make. David Blaine already knows my ss#.

[clintl]

It should be illegal for states to put your SSN on your DL. Fortunately, as far as I've had a DL, California has never done that.

[Easy Mac]

I do, but only because if I had it somewhere else I'd lose it.