Self Help

1. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet. You should keep it with other important documents - such as birth certificates and insurance policies - in a secure place. A bank’s safe-deposit box is ideal.

2. Be sure any requests for your Social Security number are legitimate. You’re within your rights to refuse to give it out. Simply ask why it is needed and state your concern - most legitimate businesspeople will respect your reticence.

3. Don’t give out your Social Security number over the telephone or Internet when you’ve been solicited for the information.

4. If your state is still using the Social Security number as an identification number, you’re within your rights to ask them to use an alternate live number.

5. The same applies for insurance cards, library cards, employee badges, and most other forms of identification that use your Social Security number. Ask them if another number can be used. If they have to use your Social Security number, ask that the number not be visible on the card.

6. If your Social Security number is stolen, contact the FTC. This may be the prelude to the opening of accounts that aren’t yours and a credit-report nightmare that can last for months or years.