# Your bank calls you up and asks for your SSN: what do you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 28, 2021, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818 "2021-12-28T23:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/1 "2021-12-28T23:56:30Z")
Bank calls with a concern about my account. It all sounded very legit and plausible right until the CSR asked for my social security number. I ended the call, then called the bank from a phone number I’d independently verified online. They confirmed (a) that they had indeed contacted me, (b) the number they called from (on my caller ID) was indeed one of their numbers, and (c) that they routinely ask for customers’ social security numbers when they call, but (d) don’t blame me one bit for wanting to make sure they weren’t a scammer. Tomorrow I will be withdrawing my entire balance and closing the account. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/2 "2021-12-28T23:58:14Z")
I don’t answer the phone unless the caller is in my contacts. Some scammers leave voicemail but most don’t. I would also close my account at any institution that did this. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/3 "2021-12-28T23:59:16Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > Tomorrow I will be withdrawing my entire balance and closing the account. I don’t like the idea of a phone call, but are you not required to give the bank your SSN? Up here in Canada we have to provide our Social Insurance Number to anyone paying us, which includes employers and banks where we are earning interest or have investments. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/4 "2021-12-28T23:59:44Z")
It’s not that they have your SSN, it’s that they’d be calling people on ordinary phones asking for that number! > [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > Tomorrow I will be withdrawing my entire balance and closing the account. But first, speak to (or email) an officer about their incredibly lax security! ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/5 "2021-12-29T00:01:02Z")
I’ve had my bank ask for the last four digits, but this was usually on inbound calls from a non-personal phone. If I were to call from my cellphone, they ‘recognize’ me and may not require that I confirm my identity. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/6 "2021-12-29T00:01:20Z")
I’ve had various medical or financial entities ask for my birthdate and the last four numbers of my SSN to be sure it’s me they’re talking to. But that’s usually when I’ve called them. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/7 "2021-12-29T00:01:36Z")
Oh yeah, the bank has my SSN, but I gave it to them when I walked into the branch to open the account. I’m also happy to give them the last 4 when I call them. Not when they call me. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/8 "2021-12-29T00:08:40Z")
When a person from your bank or credit union calls and leaves a message to call them back, you need to call Stephanie back. It is always Stephanie, no matter what she says her name is. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/9 "2021-12-29T00:14:23Z")
Oh, I know what I’ll do if this ever happens to me! “ **Okay, Steph, is that all the info you need**?” _“Almost done, sir… what is your Social Security Number?”_ “ **What’s yours**?” “Well, clearly, Steph-a-NEE, you don’t want _me_ to have a problem sharing _mine_ over the phone, so you must be comfortable with it, too…” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/10 "2021-12-29T00:18:59Z")
No-Close the account, _then_ tell them why. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/11 "2021-12-29T00:21:24Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > I don’t like the idea of a phone call, but are you not required to give the bank your SSN? Up here in Canada we have to provide our Social Insurance Number to anyone paying us, which includes employers and banks where we are earning interest or have investments. The federal government in Canada also advises to NEVER give out your Social Insurance Number, except obviously to employers and banks as required. And certainly not in response to a phone call. Various businesses like to ask for it because, what the hell, it may come in handy for them, and the risk is on you, not them. No, thanks. Except where obviously necessary, I never give it out and would prefer not to deal with businesses that claim they require it. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/12 "2021-12-29T00:53:17Z")
God, I remember when freaking **video stores** asked for your social security number. And people gave it to them! ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/13 "2021-12-29T01:12:03Z")
I had a salesman for AT&T offer to set up high speed internet for us (and turned out to be for DirectTV so screw that). Anyway, they asked for my last four digits, and wondering about a scam, I balked. They said it was just for verification of my existing account. I told them that since they already had it, give me the first two digits and I would supply the last two. They thought that was quite clever. ---
**Author:** ![Redcanoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b487fb/32.png) [@Redcanoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redcanoe)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/14 "2021-12-29T01:30:03Z")
US Air Force, early 1980’s our SSN was our ID#. It followed our name on all kinds of paperwork. My last 4 digits were stamped on my underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/15 "2021-12-29T01:30:32Z")
Yeah, I would assume that anyone who contacted me and asked for my SSN was a scammer, and I wouldn’t trust a bank that masquerades as a scammer. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/16 "2021-12-29T01:31:37Z")
Last 4 of the social. It’s your bank, they already have your social security number and only need 4 digits to verify who you are. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/17 "2021-12-29T01:49:58Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > I ended the call, then called the bank from a phone number I’d independently verified online. Are you positive you were really calling the bank? Scammers will post the “bank’s” phone number online, and it isn’t really the bank’s phone #: it’s the scammers. This happened to a relative of mine. IME, banks don’t call with concerns about an account; they email. And they never, ever ask for a SSN # over the phone. I suspect you weren’t talking to bank staff in either call. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/18 "2021-12-29T01:56:09Z")
I’m reminded of my search for a new dentist a few months ago. I found one that looked promising, and in perusing their website, they wanted your SIN/SSN on the information form for new patients (presumably so they could harass you with credit-bureau threats if you failed to pay). I called them anyway to make an appointment, intending that I would NOT provide that information. No one ever called me back. I asked a friend for a dentist referral and found someone who (a) actually had staff to answer the phone, (b) did NOT require my SIN/SSN or any other irrelevant personal information, and (c) gave me a prompt appointment and did an excellent job. Moral: Unnecessary (or non-secure) requests for SIN/SSN should be considered a red flag for a business that is more interested in its own welfare than in yours. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/19 "2021-12-29T02:05:02Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Are you positive you were really calling the bank? Scammers will post the “bank’s” phone number online, and it isn’t really the bank’s phone #: it’s the scammers. This happened to a relative of mine. IME, banks don’t call with concerns about an account; they email. And they never, ever ask for a SSN # over the phone. I suspect you weren’t talking to bank staff in either call. You know, I worried about this, but verified the number I called in several different ways. It’s actually printed on my checks. Entertainingly, when I called a second time, I got the same somewhat sassy CSR. It reminded me of that Phil Hartman/Roseanne Barr skit on SNL where Phil keeps calling back hoping to get a different agent, but it’s Roseanne every time, busting him for pretending to be a different customer with a fake British accent. (_“I KNOW who ya ARE.”_) The other reason I’m sure I’ve been talking to the bank is that after receiving the initial call, I tried to log into my account and was blocked. The person I called said she’d unblocked me, and lo, it was true. They’d deactivated me for not logging into the account for 2 years, fair enough, but reactivated me right away. But when I checked the statements, I found service charges for the last 6 months. All this time I’d maintained a balance high enough to avoid any fees, according to the terms when I signed up. Turns out they’ve raised their limit, or done away with it, and have been charging me $5/month for 6 months now. I get a statement notification every month, but no summary is included in the email. I haven’t logged in to look at the statement till today. They email me once a month like clockwork, but never said boo about this new $5 fee. Partly my fault for not checking in so long, but I could have done with at least an email notifying me of the change in policy. These folks definitely do not need to be my bank anymore. I’m a little sorry about it; they’re a tiny company, local, certified “B” corporation, very human in their customer service (to the point of having little concept of appropriate phone security!) I liked having a little money in a local business, not Global Corporate Mega Money Mart, but I think I’m done. I’ll find a credit union nearby. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818/20 "2021-12-29T02:13:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yeah, I would assume that anyone who contacted me and asked for my SSN was a scammer, and I wouldn’t trust a bank that masquerades as a scammer. This, too. “More in sorrow than in anger…” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818.md?page=2)