Home depot wanted my ss#

[Gary68]

maybe home depot should bring up that it is a credit card and the reward card they made it sound like


i thought about giving my number to the illeagles i know to bolster my ss but figured the government would wonder why i had 25 jobs,have 35 food stamp card and 83 dependents

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

i thought about giving my number to the illeagles i know to bolster my ss but figured the government would wonder why i had 25 jobs,have 35 food stamp card and 83 dependents

Common sense (as if that is rampant in the government) should tell them that multiple coworkers of theirs dropped the ball when 34 of the food stamp cards were issued; ... and the National Enquirer wasn't consulted about someone with 83 dependents (unless most were in state(s) where polygamy is tolerated)

 

[TrainChaser]

I'm older than most of you. Do you know what my SS card says? "For Social Security and Tax Purposes. Not for Identification."

It doesn't say that, anymore, does it? And don't try to tell me that it doesn't stay in the system, JesseTrue. I was at MayCo with a friend, and she handed the clerk her MayCo credit card, and the clerk asked for her SS number. Now, if she needed the SS number, what would she be MATCHING IT TO, if what you say is true?

All someone needs for identity theft is your SS # and your birth date. To pat you on your little fuzzy head, clerks 'just' ask you for the last four digits. And that's a con.

The first 3 digits of your SS # are the Area Number -- it indicates the geographical region where you were when you applied for the number (or when your parent applied for it for you). While it isn't always where you were born or grew up, it usually is. And it's pretty easy to find out where.

The next 2 numbers is the Group Number, and refers to the state you were living in at the time of application.

The third set of 4 numbers is your serial number, which is assigned at random, consecutively, in order of application. My last 4 numbers and my two sisters' numbers are consecutive; the next one was given to the next applicant in our state.

The most difficult number to apply to you is the last four digits, because it isn't based on anything more than where you were in the SS line for a card/number. If an identity thief (say, the clerk's boyfriend) gets that, all he needs after that is where you were born, which is easy enough to find, and when, also easy -- just ask Whitepages for a good guess.

The same friend I was with at MayCo was once chatting with a stranger, when he said, "You sure remind me of a woman I used to know in _____...... What was your mother's maiden name?" She actually opened her mouth to tell him (it's quite unusual), when something nudged her, and she was quick enough to hesitate for just a moment, and said 'Smith'.

Sure, many companies know your SS #, but you don't have to give it out like a street-corner hooker giving out her phone number.

 

[USACelt]

Well this is a opinion only, but if you can remember your SS#, everyone that wants it has it stored away for "safe" keeping.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Social Security office themselves has everyone's number online, therefore everyone's number is out there in the great wide open. The IRS also has everyone's number. Most everyone has a bank account so there's another institution with a lot of numbers. If someone wants it bad enough they are gonna get it. People still think they have some sort of autonomy because you chose which source has it and which doesn't, but you really don't. I don't know how many people's identities are stolen every year but with 318 million people in the country, odds are good it won't be you.

If you're really paranoid about your identity being stolen, just keep your credit score really low. As that's the main reason someone would want your ss# anyways, to open up credit in your name then spend it before you find out. If you have bad credit, you're of little use to identity thieves.

 

[Vagabound]

I made the repeat mistake of going to a Walmart Money Center the other day. Talk about a permanent debacle. In any case, when I finally got up to the register, I overheard the conversation between the clerk and the woman customer next to me. I paid attention because the clerk was asking the customer for her occupation. 

That customer and I finished about the same time and exited the money center together. I couldn't help myself, so I asked her what in the world she was doing in there that she would need to give the woman so much personal information, to include her occupation. She said she was sending money to her son. Something like Western Union. Unbelievable.

Tom

 

[John61CT]

Hard to get a decent job with bad credit nowadays, landlords obviously check too.

Some cards let you look at your reports regularly, best way to stop problems quickly.

The Identity Lock services aren't worth it.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

If you're really paranoid about your identity being stolen, just keep your credit score really low.  As that's the main reason someone would want your ss# anyways, to open up credit in your name then spend it before you find out.  If you have bad credit, you're of little use to identity thieves.

Or better yet, have good credit and put a Credit Freeze in place with all three bureaus.

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Credit-Freeze--10968?highlight=Credit+Freeze

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Looks like you just need some basic personal info and a social security # to temporarily lift the freeze? Exactly the info they'd have if they want to commit identity fraud. Or is there some sort of advanced security they use?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Looks like you just need some basic personal info and a social security # to temporarily lift the freeze?  Exactly the info they'd have if they want to commit identity fraud.  Or is there some sort of advanced security they use?

There are pin codes assigned by the companies.  Equifax and Experian are 10 digit numbers.  Trans Union's is 6 digits.

 

[TrainChaser]

ERLH: "Social Security office... IRS... everyone has a bank account so there's another institution with a lot of numbers. If someone wants it bad enough they are gonna get it."

Mostly, we aren't talking about upper-level institutions, which (hopefully) vet their employees. Most of the people I've known who have had their identities stolen and tens of thousands of dollars charged to credit cards (etc) they didn't know they had, had the thefts perpetrated by junkies, small-time hoodlums and relatives. Do you actually think that MayCo, WalMart, HomeDepot and all of the other businesses with a steady stream of employees going through the place actually do any kind of a background check?

Just because it hasn't happened to you yet, doesn't mean it won't or can't. Reduce the odds by using some common sense and THINK about what people are asking you.

 

[DrJean]

I am going to the police this week..... I've already notified AAA protectmyID.com of someone trying to open a new Visa in my name... funny how I had just been approved for SSI.... and I 've been receiving Treasury notices for a few people after I used Turbo Tax a few years ago but didn't file.... now I have 2 new requests AND yesterday I received a notice for someone else at my address from the Veteran's dept!

If you get a police report you can get a 7 year credit bureau freeze/alert rather than the 90 day. I guess all my 3 year coverages ran out from Target and Home Depot.

NO WAY is anyone getting my SS#! When I called the bank that was asking about finishing my Visa ap, he asked for all my personal data. I told him that would be silly for me to give him, the possible scammer, that!

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I've actually had 10k stolen out of my checking account so you think i'd be more paranoid but it was so easy getting the money back it was almost a non issue. I did get called into the police station by a detective in the town the bank was in, they just wanted to make sure I didn't steal my own money, which I guess people have tried. Steal 10k of your own money, report it stolen, get it back and have 20k. But it ended up being the teller and another guy who had fake checks made with my account number, non matching name and address.

I agree common sense should be used but at the end of the day I think it's almost out of our control. Big institutions have it, they are the ones that get hacked where everyone's data is stolen. Then it's luck of the draw whether they take yours or not. But I suppose the less institutions you give it to, the less chances of yours being involved in one of those institutions getting hacked. However, freezing your credit report sounds like a good middle step. I'm sure if they hit any sort of hiccup in the process of stealing one's identity such as this, they just move on to the next on the list.

I honestly couldn't even tell you how many places I've given mine too. Dozens. Every job I had, every loan i've had, every bank account i've had, every time I've had a cell phone, internet, cable plan, Every utility company for every address i've lived, every landlord I've had, every mortgage i've had, every credit card i've had.

Of all the things to worry about in life, someone stealing my SS # isn't even on the top 100 list.

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

Mostly, we aren't talking about upper-level institutions, which (hopefully) vet their employees.  Most of the people I've known who have had their identities stolen and tens of thousands of dollars charged to credit cards (etc) they didn't know they had, had the thefts perpetrated by junkies, small-time hoodlums and relatives.  Do you actually think that MayCo, WalMart, HomeDepot and all of the other businesses with a steady stream of employees going through the place actually do any kind of a background check?  

Also, consider all the businesses that still rely on paper applications; ... I used to have stacks of applications at all my stores of "potential" employees for any jobs that came open --- all with all the information someone would need/want to steal someone's identity.

 

[DrJean]

Yeah TrainChaser.. mine too.. AND that was the way it was supposed to be: Social Security card/number NOT for identification purposes!

I hate even being asked over the phone for it--- or the last 4 digits of it! I mean, I can scan all frequencies including cell phone calls...and so I know thieves do too... and not only do you give it out THEY REPEAT IT BACK! grrrrrr If it's something that has to be or can be followed up by email, I suggest I give the other half in that rather than the whole thing on the phone.

At one point the business community were confused over what part to request...so for a while many were asking for everything BUT the last four and then it's ONLY the last four... so in actuality...all our numbers are completely "out there". And yes, IRS is the pits.

My issue is with Turbo Tax. Never heard that they were hacked over the years... but somehow when I entered my info to see if I needed to file (they were the only ones IRS was using that first year) and I did not need to file nor did I... others noticed and have been using my address ever since. That's going to stop.

 

[TrainChaser]

Actually, there are only three types of institutions that SHOULD have access to your SS #: Social Security, the IRS, your employers.

But America always wants to 'simplify' things, which makes things difficult for you and easier for criminals and govt (well, you know what I mean). The Nazis just put a tattoo on people's arms.

 

[gcal]

stopped by home depot and in the checkout asked if i had a hd card,no,well if you get one we will take $25 off,hey i like free money so yea,first question was type in your social security number??? i said no,they acted nonchalant,its fine everyone already has it,no there is no chance of me typing my ss# into a hd computer,its worth $25 not to have it stolen

i cant see any reason hd would need my ss# all i can figure is government monitoring my spending habits

told them anyone with half a brain is not going to do it,bye

I had a grocery store ask for it. Uh, no. Just no. It is a big deal, as anyone who has ever had to deal with identity theft will tell you. No. For a credit card, yes they need it. But their interest rates are awful. Use another card with a better rate if you might ever have to keep a balance and pay it off. You don't want your social security number on record with any more places than absolutely necessary.

 

[Ballenxj]

Ha! I pay cash for gas. No record of where I am when or how far I have driven since last fill up. That's not the reason but.. a bonus none the less.

Do you have a cell phone? If the answer is yes, then they already have your number, where you go, how long you stay, etc.
Not that they necessarily do that to you, but they can.

 

[John61CT]

Acting in an unusual manner, that could be interpreted as avoiding surveillance, definitely makes you a "person of interest" for whatever vectors are available.

It's not as if humans are even involved in these decisions, just the automated systems already sucking everything up will spend few extra processing cycles cross-referencing you with your circle of contacts, and keep the product in storage longer than normal citizens.

Humans would be brought into it only if you throw up stronger red flags, like discussing TLA surveillance in a public forum

 

[TrainChaser]

TLA? Texas Library Association?

One of my neighbors said credit cards were designed to make the rich richer, and the poor poorer. Sounds about right...