SOCIAL SECURITY number? theft?

Question

im confused...please explain if u can

how does someone use a stolen social security number to, lets say, get a credit card, or cable.....without a drivers license or ID number.....or do they make those up too?

and why are they not matched or ran with the credit card companies or the cable companies.....is it really that easy??

Answer 1

The Social Security Number (SSN) was NEVER intended to be used an an Identification number except for the Social Security Administration. However, some bright idiot in some state or federal bureaucracy decided hey, this number is unique to this one person, let's start using it!

And things have gone downhill ever since. It became common practice to demand the SSN for everything. The Credit Reporting agencies use it as your ID, your bank uses it for your ID therefore, it is now ingrained in everything.

So, if a person can get a SSN, and a Date of Birth, they can pretty much s***w your life up royally. The Privacy Act of 1974 was passed. This law basically said if you are going to request the SSN, you have to say why it is being used, who will use it, who will have access to it, and what happens if you don't provide it. Unfortunately, this is mainly geared towards government agencies. And then the PATRIOT act diluted that law.