Posted on 05/16/2005 7:07:22 AM PDT by PissAndVinegar
Some good might actually come out of all of these recent data mishaps.
Politicians are starting to realize that permitting data brokers like Acxiom and ChoicePoint to buy and sell your Social Security number like a raffle ticket may not be that wise after all.
Some members of Congress, like Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, have been warning about the dangers of SSN misuse for years. The surprise now is that some key congressional figures are agreeing.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.com ...
Ron Paul bump !
I have always told anyone who would listen to NEVER give your SSN to anyone unless absolutely necessary.
But now, I guess it doesn't really matter anymore.
A few weeks back, I went to a doctor for a routine exam. The pre-appointment questionnaire had a place for my SSN, but as always, I left it blank.
When I returned a week later for the procedure, I noticed that my patient sheet had my SSN on it. How they obtained it, I have no idea. But, the did not get it from me.
Congress is interested - only because one of the recent hacking successes compromised their own social security and credit records.
called your insurance co??
I never gave my SSN to my health insurance company.
That information is being sent around the world in the many outsourcing projects -
Even easier to find is ssn's belonging to deceased people. Now I see how easily people can establish false identities in this country.
Would be poetic justice for some of the folks who think giving away our 'private' info, to be victims of identity theft same as they are enabling for the rest of us.
When asked, I just make 'em up.
They most likely got the Snn from your insurance company. That is how my health insurance company codes me.
then called your employer??
Maybe. I honestly don't know.
Even if they did, my employer would have no business giving my SSN to ANYONE without my consent.
....I never gave my SSN to my health insurance company.
......
Your employer did when they signed you up.
They probably just asked the nearest stucco worker!
Ah. I bet that's it.
Good call.
It is nothing more than paperwork shufflers. They filled in the blanks and forwarded on the information. HR must have done it. Only way I can figure it out.
The SSN's of deceased people are very easy to find online, and the database can be useful to people doing genealogical research (the SSN itself doesn't help, but they list the date of birth and date of death). It would be easy to find the number of someone of your own age who had died young...is there a law against using someone else's number if that person is dead?
Yes, unless you're a border jumper, then there is no penalty.
HA....THAT happened to me about 12 years ago......since then I've continued to NOT give my SS #.....only my husbands who has our insurance. It really is probably fruitless, though.
It's the "big computer in the sky"......is what I always say.....
"When I returned a week later for the procedure, I noticed that my patient sheet had my SSN on it."
It's a good idea to keep track of who has your SS#. Keep a list and if your ID is stolen and abused in the future that list is where you start your investigation. You might also want to ask your doctor where he got your # and inform him that he will be held liable if your ID is stolen in the future.
All it takes is one dishonest employee with access to his records for him to lose his practice due to liability in case of theft.
He probably got your SS# from your insurance company.
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