# You gave out everybody's SSN? Gee thanks! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 30, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653 "2003-09-30T06:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/1 "2003-09-30T06:50:27Z")
…I don’t know who is responsible (yet) but a big middle-finger salute goes out to whoever it was at my company who gave an employee list to (charity group), complete with all of our home addresses and social security numbers. Needless to say, nobody was asked if this was OK, nobody was told this was being done, and I betcha nobody would been told except that one of my sharp-eyed coworkers spotted something fishy in an email about the charity drive and how it works. So far the response of somebody connected with this blooper has been “Well the charity organization has very strict privacy policies and they’ll delete the info when they are done with it.” Oh thank you very fucking much. I feel so much better now, they’ve got a privacy policy. I don’t give a FFAARD about their policy. I don’t care whether it’s the Society To Save Adorable Kittens or the International Brotherhood Of Identity Thieves, you should not be providing my personal info to anyone without my express consent. Working in a business where security is vital (everyone watches a video called “Don’t Talk” their first day on the job) did it never occur to you that there might be something either illegal or totally against company policy here? Upper management has been alerted and they are looking into this. Fucking Mondays. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/2 "2003-09-30T07:02:00Z")
Ah, you must be Frank Sneedle of 432 Blort Street! I love what you’ve done with the curtains. Welp, seeya. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/3 "2003-09-30T07:03:38Z")
Meanwhile, **Valgard II** has already filled out a change-of-address form and applied for numerous credit cards and a new driver’s liscence. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/4 "2003-09-30T07:04:06Z")
:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Barks\_dog\_food](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@Barks\_dog\_food](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barks_dog_food)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/5 "2003-09-30T07:12:31Z")
Nice try identity thief but we all know that the real Valgard wouldn’t post this. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/6 "2003-09-30T07:16:21Z")
You’re right, I wouldn’t. WHAT?!? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/7 "2003-09-30T07:16:59Z")
What’s a FFAARD? I’d be looking for somebody’s head on a plate too. :eek: :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/8 "2003-09-30T07:19:00Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Valgard_ > So far the response of somebody connected with this blooper has been “Well the charity organization has very strict privacy policies and they’ll delete the info when they are done with it.” “Great. I hope they take it more seriously then _our_ organization takes _our_ privacy policies!” ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/9 "2003-09-30T07:23:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scarlett67 \* > \*\*What’s a FFAARD? > > I’d be looking for somebody’s head on a plate too. :eek: :mad: \*\* Flying Fuck At A Rolling Donut ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/10 "2003-09-30T07:27:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*“Great. I hope they take it more seriously then _our_ organization takes _our_ privacy policies!” \*\* Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be a big comfort when somebody hacks a website and sells that info for a nickel a name. Hopefully it’ll get taken seriously when the various Big Head Honchos/Honchettes realize that THEIR stuff is out there as well… ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/11 "2003-09-30T07:59:53Z")
What I fail to understand is why the fuck they’d _need_ your SS#! Isn’t your address enough to send you their damn flyers? What the hell are they doing with your SS# that they couldn’t do perfectly well without it? You don’t have to give out a SS# to subscribe to magazines…why should you have to give it out to a charity you haven’t even subscribed to yet? Oh wait…that’s right…_You_ didn’t give it out. Damn, I’d be bitter. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/12 "2003-09-30T08:01:13Z")
Damn, I should have got that. And I call myself a Vonnegut fan . . . I am now off to take a flying fuck at the mooooooon . . . ---
**Author:** ![pencilpusher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d6d6ee/32.png) [@pencilpusher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pencilpusher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/13 "2003-09-30T11:54:15Z")
You do know that if someone DOES do something illegal with said information theres nothing you can do right? I had my identity stolen 10 years ago and am STILL trying to get some of the crap off my record. As far as the police are concerned I have a record and I didn’t even live in the STATE at the time “I” was arrested :eek: Try to get a job with crap like that on your record. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/14 "2003-09-30T12:00:22Z")
I am looking into this transgression on your behalf, **Valgard** , and rest assured that I will get to the bottom of this. The responsible parties will be brought to justice. Please email me all of your credit card numbers, along with their expiration dates, so that I may cross-reference them against possible fraudulent claims. If necessary, I can just contact your employer directly for the above information. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/15 "2003-09-30T12:06:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Many institutions, including hospitals and some banks and brokerages use client’s SSNs as a secure representation of their identity. This seems a good idea, since you aren’t allowed to change your SSN, even though you might change your address, your name, or your phone number. Other institutions, notably banks, use SSNs as if they were secret passwords that only the owner would know. **If someone knows the name and the SSN, and is willing to say they have forgotten the account number, they will usually be allowed to transfer funds, or make other changes to an account with serious repercussions.** [http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/privacy/ssn/ssn.faq.html#IsItIllegalToAsk](http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/privacy/ssn/ssn.faq.html#IsItIllegalToAsk) Yikes! That’s awful. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/16 "2003-09-30T12:12:47Z")
In California there must be a state agency who you can report this too. At the very least, the person at your company who gave out the personal information should be fired and maybe face some charges. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/17 "2003-09-30T12:14:13Z")
Well, from the site I mentioned: > [@](#): > > Is it illegal for someone to ask for my SSN? > The short answer is that there are many restrictions on government agencies asking for your number, but few on individuals or companies. When someone from a government agency asks for your number, they are required to provide a Privacy Act Disclosure Notice, which is required to tell you what law allows them to ask, whether you have to provide your number, and what will happen if you don’t provide the number. > > Private companies aren’t required to follow this law, and in general your recourse is to find another company to do business with if you don’t like their policies. I would think charities fall under this category, but of course the information was given voluntarily by your company, so this might not be applicable anyway. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/18 "2003-09-30T21:26:26Z")
Not completely on-topic, but Maybe it is time for Congress to pass a law protecting our SSNs. Yeah, credit might be harder to get, but maybe that will also stop the 5 credit apps we all get in the mail weekly. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/19 "2003-09-30T22:00:41Z")
A tangental rant: Yesterday I get a letter in the mail from a group calling itself something like “Automotive Warranty Agency”. It claims that my car’s warranty is about to expire and that I need to act immediately to renew it. I thought “hmmm, that’s odd. I thought I had another 30,000 miles on the warranty.” Then I noticed the letter was not from Honda at all and figured this was just a pernicious piece of junk mail. Here’s the creepy part: The letter asked me to fill out a little form and return it to them that included blanks for my SSN _AND_ my Vehicle Identification Number! So these fuckers were sending out intentionally decptive letters so they could have my name, address, SSN and VIN. I’d like to see their privacy policy! ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653/20 "2003-09-30T22:15:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vibrotronica \* > \*\*A tangental rant: > > Yesterday I get a letter in the mail from a group calling itself something like “Automotive Warranty Agency”. It claims that my car’s warranty is about to expire and that I need to act immediately to renew it. I thought “hmmm, that’s odd. I thought I had another 30,000 miles on the warranty.” Then I noticed the letter was not from Honda at all and figured this was just a pernicious piece of junk mail. Here’s the creepy part: The letter asked me to fill out a little form and return it to them that included blanks for my SSN _AND_ my Vehicle Identification Number! So these fuckers were sending out intentionally decptive letters so they could have my name, address, SSN and VIN. I’d like to see their privacy policy! \*\* I would report that to your local postal inspectors. That does sound like fraud. Honda has that information on record, so if you wanted to extend the warranty on your car, all you’d have to do is do Honda’s paperwork. Robin [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-gave-out-everybodys-ssn-gee-thanks/204653.md?page=2)