What does your SSN reveal?

Asked by: Mr. Emmanuel Gislason V  |  Last update: July 26, 2022
Score: 4.5/5 (7 votes)

Many businesses ask for your SSN because it is a convenient way to identify you in their system. As a result, your social security number can now reveal all kinds of information about you, including places you've lived, your credit history, and maybe even medical conditions.

Does your SSN show your age?

The Serial Number, itself, doesn't say anything about your location or age that the Group Number and Area Number don't already say, although since they are assigned consecutively, they could potentially reveal your relative age within a Group and an Area.

Does your SSN show where you were born?

SSNs have never been assigned directly to note a person's birthplace; before 1972, the number reflected the location of the office issuing the number, and since 1972, numbers have been assigned by the address written on the application.

What can you find out with someone's Social Security number?

Once someone has used your Social Security number to find out information on your name and address history, they can use that information to determine if you have a criminal background. Prospective employers often do such background checks.

Does your Social Security number Tell your race?

Apparently due to the fact that the middle digits of the SSN are referred to as the "group number," some people have misconstrued this to mean that the "group number" refers to racial groupings. So a myth goes around from time-to-time that encoded in a person's SSN is a key to their race. This simply is not true.

Your Social Security Card is Insecure

43 related questions found

What do the first 3 digits of a SSN mean?

The first three (3) digits of a person's social security number are determined by the ZIP Code of the mailing address shown on the application for a social security number.

What can someone do with the last 4 digits of your SSN?

As long as a hacker or scammer has access to other personal information such as your name and address, they can use the last four digits of your SSN (in most cases) to open accounts in your name, steal your money and government benefits, or even get healthcare and tax refunds in your name.

How much is my Social Security number worth?

The company found that buyers are currently willing to pay just $1 for a Social Security number, which is the same amount they'll pay for user and password information to Brazzers, a pornographic website.

How can I use my SSN to get money?

They can use your SSN to open a bank account in your name.

That means that anyone with your SSN can easily open a bank account in your name, especially if the identity thief already obtained a driver's license in your name.

How much is a Social Security number worth on the dark web?

Passport information sells for $62.61 on the dark web according to the Dark Web Index, while other proof-of-identity documents are running just under $30. A separate Experian estimate from 2017 has driver's licenses selling for $20 while, surprisingly, Social Security numbers can sell for as little as $1.

Can I sell my SSN?

Believe it or not, it's legal for private firms to sell, or reveal, Social Security numbers. When Congress passed the Privacy Act of 1974, it restricted the government's use of SSNs but left the private sector free to use them at will. Until two years ago, anyone could buy SSNs over the Web.

Can you change your SSN?

You can't change your Social Security number simply because your card has been lost or stolen, or to avoid bankruptcy or legitimate debts. The only other reasons Social Security will consider assigning a new number are: Sequential numbers assigned to members of your family are causing confusion.

Can two people have the same Social Security number?

"Social Security numbers can be associated with multiple individuals, and that individuals can have multiple SSNs associated with them.

What can a scammer do with my SSN?

Once hackers or thieves have your SSN, they can make false statements on claims, file claims under your SSN, file fraudulent tax returns for refunds, open bank accounts and credit cards and more. A SSN, especially one with a good credit score attached, can be used to extract serious money quickly via these scams.

What do the 2 middle numbers in Social Security mean?

The group numbers are the two middle numbers of a social security number. These numbers do not represent the geographical region, but they do represent the order in which a number was issued for a particular region.

Who has Social Security Number 1?

This particular record, (055-09-0001) belonged to John D. Sweeney, Jr., age 23, of New Rochelle, New York. The next day, newspapers around the country announced that Sweeney had been issued the first SSN.

Can someone have the same last 4 digits of SSN?

Out of 119 people, there is a 50% chance that two of them will have the same last 4 digits in their SSN. Out of 180 people, there is a 80% chance that two of them will have the same last 4 digits in their SSN.

Can I change my identity?

The quick answer is that no, you can't completely erase your identity in this day and age -- unless the government does it for you. Legally changing your name isn't too difficult. Legally changing your Social Security number (SSN) is possible as well, but only under certain circumstances.

Are SSN unique?

Today, assigned randomly and never recycled, a social security number is as unique an identifier as your fingerprints. (Although, in the past, duplicates are known to have been issued accidentally.)

Can someone access my bank account with my Social Security number?

Thieves might have a difficult time accessing your bank account if they only knew your Social Security number. Most of the time, to either access an existing account or open up a new bank account, the bank would require additional forms of identification, such as your physical Social Security card, Real ID or passport.

How can I get a second Social Security number and start over legally?

People who want to ask for a new Social Security number must:
  1. Apply in person at a Social Security office;
  2. Complete an application;
  3. Provide a statement explaining the reasons for needing a new number;
  4. Provide current, credible, third-party evidence documenting the reasons for needing a new number; and.

Does your Social Security number expire?

Does an SSN expire? No. Once an SSN has been assigned it is an individual's unique number for the rest of his or her life in the United States. However, the individual's work authorization may expire.

Who owns your Social Security number?

Your SSN is tied to Social Security Administration which is tied directly to the Federal Reserve System, which is privately owned by stock-holding banks, one of which is Barclay's, a Royal Britich Bank, as well as several American banks, which are also British owned and controlled.

Can you buy a SSN?

Generally, only noncitizens authorized to work in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can get an SSN. SSNs are used to report a person's wages to the government and to determine a person's eligibility for Social Security benefits.

What happens if my info is on the dark web?

Sites on the dark web use encryption software to hide their locations. A good chunk of the dark web is devoted to the buying and selling of stolen financial and personal information. And if your information ends up on dark web sites — for instance, after a data breach — an identity thief could gain access to it.