Issues with the US Social Security Number System

Issues with the US Social Security Number System

The obvious issues that lead to SSN identity fraud are the overuse and misuse of this information. While it is not a legal obligation to provide your SSN to companies other than government agencies, and insurance and credit companies, it is still the standard form of personal identification, and it is often a necessary prerequisite in order to do business with some companies.

However, when it is required that a customer use his or her SSN often, the security level of that identifier drops significantly. Companies often compiling customer lists which contain SSNs due to the amount of information they convey about a person. Websites such as SSN Background Check and SSN Lookup allow people to easily turn this number into a vast degree of personally identifiable information.

Therefore, fraud on this type is on the rise, as one can expect. One common technique for obtaining this information is to steal someone's physical mail, which can result in the fraudster obtaining the person's full name, address, and other related pieces of information. Mail containing personal information which is dumped in the garbage without being destroyed properly is also susceptible to being stolen. Both of these are on low end means of identity fraud ... yet they are still prevalent and contribute to the problem.

Some states have begun to address this issue of SSN related identity fraud. The country's overdependence on SSNs as a personal identifier and the irresponsible misuse of it by companies has been address to varying degrees in different states and with varying levels of success. Regulatory laws instituted in the past several years have created fines for companies that allow consumers' personal identities slip into criminal hands. However, these measures alone are not enough to resolve a problem which is so widespread. Most of the laws are aimed at punishing companies or criminals after identity fraud has already been committed.

The major problem with SSNs which is not often discussed in relation to SSN related fraud is the permanence of the SSN. The number simply never 'resets'. If you lose your Social Security card you are not provided with a new number, just a new card containing the same number as you have always had. Therefore, if one's card was stolen, it is straightforward enough to get a new one, but the original theft is never addressed.

Your Social Security Number cannot be easily changed without special assistance or circumstances. If someone is to use your number to acquire credit through your name, there is generally a long lag time before you realize the problem. Often, realization doesn't occur until several months later when the credit company has phoned or sent a letter to you demanding repayments, or you yourself have tried to acquire credit only to discover that your credit rating has been severely damaged.

A better system would be that, when your SSN was stolen or lost, you were provided with a new number as well as a new card, then the old one would become disconnected to you and therefore any criminal misuse of your old number would not adversely affect you personally. This is a common practice for banking and credit companies with credit cards; it should be adopted by our government as well. A simple precaution such as this can do wonders to address the inherent issue of SSN identity fraud.

POST COMMENT

Uninstall/Remove Personal Security Sentinel - the Best Way to Remove Personal Security Sentinel virus Quickly! Personal Security Sentinel Removal - How To Uninstall/Remove Personal Security Sentinel Easily From Your PC Personal Security Sentinel Virus Removal-Uninstall Personal Security Sentinel Virus Reasons to Screen the Tenants for Security Reasons Car Alarm Systems: One of The Popular Security Products Getting the Best Security from Your Motion Sensor Device How to Find the Best Deal on a Security Surveillance System The best solution for your security concern Fencing - Why is it Important and How to Choose Their Best Makers of Security Fencing? How to Start Searching for on A Reliable Maker of Security Fencing? Special security arrangements for Vaikuntha Ekadashi A Security Yard Sign - An Impressive Deterrent For A Low Cost Security Strategies and Technology Becoming Smarter