Can I give out the last 5 digits of my social security number?
This is why it is advisable to keep your Social Security number always secure and out of reach of the wrong individuals. It is used to recognize you and to get information about your financial or health conditions. Since SSN is so intimately connected to your personal and governmental records, you must be extremely vigilant in choosing to whom you may your SSN. But what if we practice only sharing the last five digits of the credit card number? Is that safe? Let me explain the basics.
What Are the Hazards of Broadcasting the Last Five Digits of Your Social Security Number?
While sharing only the last 5 digits doesn't pose as big of a risk as sharing your entire 9-digit SSN, there are still potential risks, such as:
- Identity theft. That means they will not be able to open the financial accounts in your name though in the process of time, they can get other details about you and then steal your identity.
- Financial fraud. The last 5 digits may be enough to cause fraudsters to use the details to open some existing financial accounts or bills in your name. They could then alter account details or payment information to their preference for fraudulent motives.
- Medical identity theft. The last 5 digits could open some medical accounts connected to SSN and some other connected accounts. This could enable other persons to fraudulently access medical services using your identity as a reference.
- Phishing attacks. Fraudsters might use those 5 digits to masquerade as you, to get you to divulge even more personal information, through phishing emails and phone calls.
However, it does not mean that 5 digits are safe by all means as they can be also used by criminals for malicious purposes. You should be very careful when and where you hand them out since you do not want to be handing out the invitation cards every time someone asks for them.
When can one share the last 5 digits of the SSN?
There are some situations where sharing the last 5 digits of your Social Security number is generally considered safe:
- This is something that you have to discuss with your insurance company. Often insurance companies can ask for the last 5 digits as a means of identifying the policyholders. This helps them to confirm your identity in other ways.
- During medical visits. Some medical clinics might request the last few digits of the SSN instead of the full number to be able to access your records. This reduces the chances of coming across such cases.
- Where income verification forms were required. For instance, when you are proving your income to landlords or lenders, you may be required to provide your SSN; however, the number required will only be the last 5 digits in case of employment records.
- Credit card usage or the time when the applicant goes for credit card procurement. The application forms will have some statements like the submission of the last 5 digits of SSN is voluntary in the identification process when applying for a form. This is normally so, and the risk involved is generally low.
Thus, there are certain formal procedures in which it would be normal to provide some SSN digits, and while it is not satisfactory to provide only the last 5, it’s seen as safe enough by consumer protection bodies and governments. Though, you still can decide not to share them.
Below are some general guidelines that can be followed to ensure that the last 5 digits of SSN remain private
If asked for the last 5 digits of your Social Security number and you don’t feel comfortable sharing them, here are some things you can do:
- Be polite and decline, stating that it is capable of being reduced to any part of the SSN if desirable. This will be understood by responsible organizations.
- Inquire about the possibility of using other means to identify oneself instead of entering SSN digits in full.
- Do not disclose the digits orally or through telephone calls or emails/ texts to prevent falls for con artists. Permit to share only if you are in direct communication with a confirmed, trusted individual.
- Generally, if a website demands the last 5 SSN digits for the signup or any other reason, then it is better to avoid that site or at least check how they protect personal information first.
- This can be accomplished by visiting the homepage of the particular company or organization to ascertain whether they have a public policy of only using the bare minimum digit of the SSN. This indicates security consciousness.
It has even fewer risks than when you reveal your full 9-digit SSN, but it is still a number that scammers might misuse. If the number is unavoidable or mandatory in certain circumstances or compliance with the established norms, the following measures will help reduce any potential risks. But regarding the solicitations that make you uncomfortable, you have the right to decline them.
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