Social Security Numbers on the Internet Options

[JM]

I was looking up a dentist and one of the websites returned was FAQ.org there were a lot of social security numbers associated with the names. With the prevalence in identity theft I was greatly surprised ssn's were so prevalent on the web.

I didn't need to log on or have a password. Thought it may be of interest here for people to Google their names and see what comes up. You may not have put your ssn out there but maybe a family member looking for you did some how?

[Kirk]

I wouldn't display mine, but people do some really foolish things.

[liveneasy]

I was looking up a dentist and one of the websites returned was FAQ.org there were a lot of social security numbers associated with the names. With the prevalence in identity theft I was greatly surprised ssn's were so prevalent on the web.

If you dig a little deeper I think you will find that all the people/SSN numbers listed are dead. I suppose someone might be able to use the SS number... but I don't think the person it was originally assigned to really cares anymore.

[Renegade]

I do genealogy work and I can purchase a cd which lists people and ssn's that are deceased. I don't know who gathers the info either the SSA or another company puts this info together for the folks who are into tracing their roots. I have one from early 2000 which does list my father and mother. That is probably what your seeing on the web.

Jim

[curtis.lesa]

Time to think about this one. Are we in the safe hands?

[JM]

If you dig a little deeper I think you will find that all the people/SSN numbers listed are dead. I suppose someone might be able to use the SS number... but I don't think the person it was originally assigned to really cares anymore.

True the deceased won't complain thus making it is a perfect resource for individuals wanting ID's and or whatever benefits come with "valid" ID's to harvest ssns.

Dead Yet Spending: The New ID Theft

Maybe the living may want to complain as the losses incurred by businesses are then redistributed to all consumers thru higher prices for goods and services. 2009 Identity Fraud figures estimate the losses in the billions though the costs per incident are down because of increased consumer awareness and vigilance the number of incidents are increasing possibly because of the ailing economy and rising unemployment?

[Wild Bill]

Getting hold of current social security numbers is far easier than you may think. I will not go into specifics at all, but it is possible, with a subscription to one of few genuine detective services on the web, to find ANYONE'S SSN, along with all other information out there. Luckily for us all there are far more false detective services on the web than genuine, so it is possible to waste a lot of money before finding the real ones. Unluckily, the real ones advertise as well, and they get you to a lot of supposedly secure data.

A non specific example would be somebody's name, SSN, banking data, credit card data, social group data, housing data, and mortgage information, credit history and rating, driver license history, all addresses lived at, for entire life, school history, etc etc. There is NO way to protect your information from these services - they are accessed by law enforcement, and paying private individuals with no background check.

Because of this miserable fact, I am registered with a company that monitors my name, and data, constantly. I cannot do anything without that company knowing, and randomly calling me, to ensure it is me. It is inconvenient, but I am as safe from id theft as I can make myself, and guaranteed a massive amount of money, to resolve problems if they occur. I still don't give anyone my social security number - because of this, I have been refused a monthly site in an Oregon RV park, refused car rental, and a few other things, but I just don't give it out - not even to healthcare professionals - they argue the toss, but I don't need to, don't have to, so don't do it. If you are paying cash for a treatment, they don't need it, if Insurance is paying for it, you can call the insurance and get an ID from them, so the hospital or doctor does not need your SSN - I don't give it to anyone - On two occasions I refused to give it, when buying a vehicle - they still sold me it. The only time I give it is to get my Driver license, and to purchase a firearm - haven't worked out how to do either of those without that detail.

[HJ]

For just a few dollars you can freeze your credit with the three reporting companies. Even if someone does manage to get your SS or other personal info they can't do anything with it without your secret pin number. The only down side is if you decide to buy a big ticket item that requires the seller to check your credit you will have to know which of the three companies they will use and unfreeze access for them. Like Wild Bill you must guard your personal info ....

[ChiefJohn]

SSN of deceased folks are readily available on the internet -- check Social Security Death Index'

[Wild Bill]

Another trick I do, when asked for my SSN, is make one up. Nobody has ever commented on it.

[Ed6713]

Another trick I do, when asked for my SSN, is make one up. Nobody has ever commented on it.

Easy. When someone asks for my SSAN I just give them Wild Bills. Works like a charm.