# Social Security # on job application over the phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 9, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-on-job-application-over-the-phone/278920 "2004-12-09T14:33:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anamnesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@anamnesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anamnesis)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-on-job-application-over-the-phone/278920/1 "2004-12-09T14:33:37Z")
The short and thick of it: I’ve been offered a pretty decent job position with a contract agency over the phone. At this point there’s been no interview, but based on my qualifications they seem satisfied. Thing is, they want me to submit my SS# for background check verification, mostly (they claim) to verify wage history and whether or not I’ve worked within their organization before. I don’t believe I recall ever having to give this out for any job screening process. I know that people who steal identities usually need at least a few other pieces besides a SS# to commit identity theft. I gave the recruiter some flak about this, saying I’ve never had to give this info out over the phone for a job application. Should I go ahead and give the number, or are my reservations legitimate about not freely handing it out to prospective employers over the phone? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-on-job-application-over-the-phone/278920/2 "2004-12-09T15:33:05Z")
Oh, bizarro. No way. You are spot on the money, IM **H** O. And I’d say that at this point it’s questionable whether these people even have a job offer in their pockets. I’m calling “scam” on this one. And no, they don’t need anything more than a SS# for a lot of “identity theft” things, it being widely used as a simple ID number. Your Tax Dollars At Work. Read. [http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html](http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html) > [@](#): > > Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. When a dishonest person has your Social Security number, the thief can use it to get other personal information about you. Most of the time identity thieves use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, they use the credit cards and do not pay the bills. You do not find out that someone is using your number until you are turned down for credit, or you begin to get calls from unknown creditors demanding payment for items you never bought…[more] ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-on-job-application-over-the-phone/278920/3 "2004-12-09T15:37:03Z")
And I mean, geez, a reputable employer will **know** all this, and wouldn’t even **ask** you for your SS# over the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-on-job-application-over-the-phone/278920/4 "2004-12-09T15:42:47Z")
If you are sure you are talking to a recruiter/screener/employer, go ahead. Would you feel better if you could give it to them face-to-face? If this isn’t possible, you need to weigh the risks, which is pretty much what goes on all day in life. Whenever you apply for a loan, a mortgage, student aid or utlility even, your I.D. passes through hundrds of hands, with SSN and all. It probably pops up in front of someone everytime you use the bank. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-on-job-application-over-the-phone/278920/5 "2004-12-09T15:50:56Z")
If you’re sure it’s a prospective employer, what’s the difference between giving it over the phone and handing it over in person? They’re going to need it anyway – it’s required to prove you’re a citizen and eligible to work without a green card (unless you have a passport), and it’s your tax ID number for withholding. If you haven’t assured yourself of their legitimacy, do so. Look up their web site, call them back, check out their history – it only takes a few minutes. If you can’t vet them, then don’t give them your SSN in person, either. ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-on-job-application-over-the-phone/278920/6 "2004-12-09T16:08:41Z")
I would be hesitate to give the number out, unless I knew the company and possible job offer was legit. You shouldn’t be giving out your SSAN willy nilly but on the other hand, its likely thousands of people now have access to it so it’s also possible to make too big a deal of it. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-on-job-application-over-the-phone/278920/7 "2004-12-09T18:29:18Z")
As an employer, I would never ask for a SSN over the phone. Usually, we have people ask for applications over the phone and we mail it them. It’s a standard form, which does have a social security number slot to fill in. At this point, I don’t care if they fill that slot out or not, or they could write 123-45-6789 for all I care. When it comes to the interview though, and I need to do background checks and fingerprinting, then the applicant has no choice but to gives their SS card and DL to copy for their file. If they refuse, we tell them sorry for the inconvenience and terminate the interview process right then and there. But at least the applicant knows who has their social security number if (which we won’t) we decide to do something funny with it.