It's bad to give out your Social Security number (SSN) because it's the master key to your financial, medical, and personal information, making you vulnerable to devastating identity theft where criminals can open credit in your name, steal tax refunds, get jobs, file fraudulent benefit claims, or even commit crimes, damaging your credit and reputation. Your SSN allows scammers to impersonate you for loans, bank accounts, medical care, and government benefits, leading to significant debt and hassle.
You should be careful about sharing your number, even when you're asked for it. You should ask why your number is needed, how it'll be used, and what will happen if you refuse. The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give out your SSN.
An identity thief who has your social security number and other personal information could do a number of things with it, including: Open new credit accounts, like credit cards or car loans, in your name. Claim tax refunds that rightfully belong to you. Create a fake identity to get a job, apartment, or other services.
You should be careful about sharing your number. The following information is from the Social Security Administration and the Federal Trade Commission. A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can steal your identity and apply for loans or credit cards in your name.
Get help for identity theft
If someone has used your SSN to open a new account or make a purchase: Report it at IdentityTheft.gov and find out what to do next, including obtaining an FTC Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan.
An organization's collection and use of SSNs can increase the risk of identity theft and fraud. Each time an individual divulges his or her SSN, the potential for a thief to illegitimately gain access to bank accounts, credit cards, driving records, tax and employment histories and other private information increases.
With the typical background check, you often only need an individual's name and other information about them to search for criminal records. However, a credit check is somewhat different—landlords must collect an applicant's Social Security number to move forward.
To send your Social Security Number (SSN) safely, avoid standard email/text; use secure online portals, encrypted file sharing (like password manager features or dedicated services with expiring links), or password managers for sharing; and always verify the recipient's legitimacy, providing the SSN in person or via phone call if digital methods aren't possible, never over an unencrypted message.
Clues That Someone Has Stolen Your Information
Merchants refuse your checks. Debt collectors call you about debts that aren't yours. You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report. Medical providers bill you for services you didn't use.
Even children often have their Social Security number stolen, and credit monitoring services rarely help victims much. According to statistics provided to NBC News by the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, there were 1,857 new data breaches in 2024 that included Americans' Social Security numbers.
Employment identity theft is a type of identity theft that occurs when someone steals your Social Security number (SSN) and other personally identifiable information to apply for a job in your name. It usually happens when the fraudulent applicant has been disqualified for work in some way.
An identity thief could try to use your Social Security number to do things like open accounts, take out a loan, file taxes, or get a job. To check if someone is using your number for work purposes, review your Social Security work history by creating an account at socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
Your employer and financial institutions will need your Social Security number for wage and tax reporting purposes. Other businesses may ask you for your Social Security number to do a credit check if you are applying for a loan, renting an apartment, or signing up for utilities.
The Social Security number was developed for this pur- pose. This unique configuration, plus the fact that an SSN is used for many purposes besides employment (income tax returns, bank accounts, drivers' licenses, and so forth), makes the number easily recognizable.
With a stolen SSN, criminals can open new lines of credit, file taxes under your name, or even fraudulently apply for your government benefits. Find out how to protect your SSN from theft, and what to do if it is stolen.
We intentionally limit the amount of sensitive data we store, and we use multiple layers of security to keep your data safe. Additionally, we continually review and update our practices to stay on top of evolving threats. For more details on the types of information Zillow stores, please see our Privacy Policy.
Don't carry your Social Security card or number in your wallet or purse. Keep your card somewhere safe at home. Never give your personal information to someone who calls you and asks for it. Thieves can try to trick you into giving them all or part of your number online or on the phone.
A user must provide an email address and verified social security number in order to withdraw funds from their Sleeper Wallet. A user must be located in the U.S. or Canada to withdraw. Successful withdrawals may take five or more business days to process.
If someone steals your SSN, they can use it to: