|
|
|
* We will NEVER rent, trade or release your information to any third party for any reason - ever.
|
|
Social Security Number Lookup - Benefits vs. Dangers
Looking up Social Security Numbers is possible but certain information may
not be disclosed to you. This is part of efforts to curb the ever-escalating
occurrence of identity theft.
Social Security Number lookup methods were first used in the United States by
the Internal Revenue Service in 1961. Employers, hospitals, educational
institutions, banks, as well as credit card and insurance companies eventually
followed the IRS' lead.
Since the first SSNs were issued in the mid-1930s, they have grown to be the
most used record-keeping number in America today – especially since they are
generally a prerequisite to working in America.
Before 1965, SSNs had fewer digits and the order of numbers changed when the
central agency took over assigning SSNs from branch offices in 1972. An SSN
today is made up of 9 digits divided by hyphens. The first set of 3 is the area;
the middle 2, the group; and the last 4, the serial number.
Social Security Number Lookup - Security Policies
Social Security Number lookup methods have lately been adjusted not only by
government websites but also by an increasing number of commercial databases to
protect citizens against identity thieves.
For instance, some commercial websites will not turn up a date of birth,
address, or credit rating when an SSN search is made. In fact, these websites
only turn up names and SSNs as an aid against fraud by identity thieves and
allow access only to qualified (registered, traceable) users.
Several states have implemented redaction of SSNs in whole or in part, others
have found selective redaction too costly to undertake, and yet others have
chosen not to make certain public records available over the Internet.
Some states, such as Kentucky, had the foresight to keep SSNs from public
records early on. Kentucky has a state law that goes back 30 years requiring a
dual filing system. The set of records available for public access omits SSNs,
while the other, original set has them.
But it seems tough to control public dissemination of SSNs simply because, as
earlier stated, they are the most frequently used number in the US. Land,
licensing, court, and all sorts of civil records bear SSNs. Even voter's rolls
have them!
Moreover, the same records also include birth dates and, at times, financial
details, making these records very convenient for identity thieves to use. Even
worse, some records even bear signature images, as well as passport and green
card data, creating a complete source of identity theft material!
The best thing to do is to always exercise caution – whatever form you are
filling out, whatever search you are planning to take. Further, deal only with
reputable service providers such as the ones reviewed at RecordsSiteReviews'
Social Security Number
lookup section.
|
