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A Social Security number (SSN) is a nine digit identification number that has become a universal identifier for both the government and the private sector in the U.S.

A Social Security number can be used to steal your identity (commonly called identity theft) to commit fraud, open new credit and bank accounts, get medical care/other benefits and obtain employment.

Others can get your personal information in many ways including

While you can't always prevent identity theft, you can reduce your risk.

Tim recently discovered that he had been a victim of identity theft for quite some time. Through a phone call from Qwest Wireless' fraud department, he was informed that someone had been using his Social Security number, but they were not able to verify his city/zip and date of birth. Read More

Stacy has been stalked for several years. It started in college when the stalker got her Social Security number off a list of grades posted by a professor. They used it to track her down whenever she moves (not threatening to physically harm her, but letting her know they knows where she lives). Read More

Judy is a disabled senior citizen that needs to ride in a vans specially equipped for mobile-impaired persons. Her local transit agency puts riders' Social Security numbers on the passes that must be shown upon entering the vehicle. Read More

Brad is a sales agent and makes sales calls from his home. His company uses their employees' Social Security numbers as their company ID numbers. It's on their business cards. When the employees take a new order, their Social Security number appears on their customer's paperwork.

Jake was recently traveling in Mexico. While parked outside a hotel, all his documents were stolen from his briefcase including his passport, checks for four checking accounts, 35 credit cards and his Social Security card. Read More