These are the places where you should never give your social security number so it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands – and what to do if it does.
By Cameron Huddleston – Kiplinger Personal Finance
Times change, and the places where you should never give your Social Security number are not as obvious as they might have once been. Safeguarding your Social Security number is one of the best ways to prevent identity theft. Not only should you never carry your Social Security card in your wallet or purse, but you should rarely give out your Social Security number. The more places that have your Social Security number, the more at risk it is of falling into the wrong hands.
In fact, several of the riskiest places to give out your Social Security number might even surprise you.
Places where you should never give your social security number
Safeguarding your Social Security number is essential to protect yourself from identity theft, which can cause significant financial difficulties. And according to the SSA, “repetitive use and disclosure of SSNs in organizational record-keeping systems, multiplies the susceptibility of persons to potential identity theft.” For this reason, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is initiating a public information program to encourage the use of alternate identifiers instead of Social Security numbers.
About 1 in 5 people (22%) have experienced identity theft in their lifetime, according to 2023 data from the Federal Trade Commission. 2023 also saw the highest number of data compromises on record in the U.S. in a single year, according to the Insurance Information Institute. That represents a 72% hike from the all-time high set in 2021.
Below are 10 places where you should never give your Social Security number. If any of the following places does ask for it, it’s okay (and advised) to say no.