# What can someone find out if they know your SSN? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2000, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916 "2000-08-18T22:14:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/1 "2000-08-18T22:14:06Z")
How wary should I be over the issue of giving out my social security number? Say that someone had my full name, SSN, and birth date; what could he or she find out with this information alone? Zarathustra ---
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/2 "2000-08-18T22:16:45Z")
Sorry, I intended to post this in General Questions. Mods, please move this thread when it’s convenient. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/3 "2000-08-19T00:56:05Z")
They could file for a credit card in your name, among numerous other bad things. SSN is very useful in identity theft. Of course, if someone is gunning for you (P.I.), you are screwed. They _will_ find out the information. All you can do is control your personal information and vigilantly shred or destroy records bearing this information when you throw them out. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/4 "2000-08-19T01:18:45Z")
It’s funny how the feds expressly say that the SS number is not to be used as a form of ID, but EVERYONE requires it. Try to apple for anything, from a video rental to a job, and leave it out. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/5 "2000-08-19T01:21:40Z")
“…try to APPLY.” Geez, I’ve been up too long… ---
**Author:** ![barker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@barker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/6 "2000-08-19T02:23:49Z")
They could put together a pretty complete profile on you. All they really need to start with is you name and either your address or phone number. From there, anyone skilled in the art with, availability to the right databases,could come up with your SSN. From there its just research and putting a puzzle together. Current and past employment. Past places of residence. Credit and Bank Account information. Depends on how motivated the searcher is. Also depends on how unscrupulous they are. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/7 "2000-08-19T04:43:02Z")
[Moderator Hat ON] Sending this off to General Questions, as requested. [Moderator Hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/8 "2000-08-19T14:48:28Z")
They could run an FBI search: [http://www.policeguide.com/cgi-bin/criminal-search](http://www.policeguide.com/cgi-bin/criminal-search) ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/9 "2000-08-19T15:55:40Z")
Nice link, handy. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/10 "2000-08-19T16:54:14Z")
Give me your name, s.s.#, and address, and I can get a full credit report. Then I can use your credit cards on the Internet! Not that I would… ---
**Author:** ![Konrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@Konrad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Konrad)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/11 "2000-08-19T17:13:33Z")
How can someone find employment history once they have the SS number? Can they legally request that info from the government or is there some illegal-but-common way to get it? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/12 "2000-08-19T17:53:01Z")
It’s routine to put such information on credit histories. It’s too easy for people to claim being employed and give the name of a friend who works at the company who will verify non-existant employment. ---
**Author:** ![JonF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JonF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonF)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2000, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-someone-find-out-if-they-know-your-ssn/29916/13 "2000-08-20T00:11:44Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s funny how the feds expressly say that the SS number is not to be used as a form of ID You are (or were) expressly forbidden from using the **card** to identify yourself, but the **number** is up for grabs. [Why does my old social security card say it can’t be used as ID?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_154.html).