This was once common but is exceedingly rare these days. I'm sure exceptions exist, but nearly all Americans now treat this as a Very Secret Number.

▲

shakna 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Secret... But generatable since 2009. [0] 2011 randomisation slightly reduced the risk, but not by much.

As many as 1 in 7 SSNs may have been accidentally used by more than one person. [1]

Unlike Australia's TFN or the UK's VAT, SSN has no self-check, making it rather easy to just... Generate one that works.

And all an API check of the number will tell you, is what an attacker would already have: DOB and Place of Birth.

[0] https://pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.0904891106

[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/technolog/odds-someone-else-has-your...

▲

swiftcoder 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> nearly all Americans now treat this as a Very Secret Number

I don't think that they actually do in practice. Last time I opened an account with Comcast they required your social security number. Same with an AT&T cell plan.

▲

dizhn 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Probably something to do with checking credit history right?

▲

reaperducer 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Last time I opened an account with Comcast they required your social security number. Same with an AT&T cell plan.

Strictly speaking they require /a/ Social Security Number, not necessarily /your/ SSN.

When I signed up for my most recent cellular service, I hesitated at giving my information to the guy in the store. I told him that since it was a pre-paid account I wasn't asking for credit, so there's no need for him to have my information.

He was OK with that, and pulled out an ID card the store keeps in a drawer for just such occasions.

Salespeople have a sales quota, not an enforce-the-rules quota.

	▲	direwolf20 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Same when I visited Germany, every phone account needs your name and address and passport number to prevent spam, I bought a prepaid card, since I don't live there I don't have an address, so he used the address of the store. Still needed a passport though.

▲

vulcan01 10 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm not sure people treat this as a Very Secret Number. Certainly using SSNs publically has gone away, but people are willing to provide their SSNs to basically anyone that asks for it. Heck, some job applications ask for your SSN.

▲

groby_b 12 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

LOL.

Every single $&@ doctor's intake form: "We'd like to have you SSN".

▲

drnick1 11 hours ago | parent [-]

Yes, I have seen doctors and dentists ask for the SSN, and categorically refuse to provide it.

	▲	groby_b 10 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Unless you personally are nearly all Americans, good for you, but not relevant to OPs post about "Very Secret Number"