Social Security Number Theft
-- Last Four Digits

According to an article in the August, 2007 issue of Money magazine, an identity thief can use the last four digits of your social security number to steal your identity. Those four numbers, along with your name and address, can be used to order a copy of your credit report from one of the companies that operates as a liason to the credit reporting companies. Once they have your credit report, they have your social security number which is printed on the report. They might even be able to guess the first five digits of your social security number, because they are based on your place and date of birth!

What do you do? Never give out your social security number, not even the last four digits, to anyone unless they can give you a good reason why they need it. Remember: You're only legally required to give out your social security number to financial institutions, employers and other companies required to report to the IRS. This does not include doctors, dentists and other service providers who routinely ask for your SS#. They don't need it and shouldn't be asking for it!