I am posting this link: Tax mailing has Social Security numbers visible

And I thought it could generate some conversation about identity theft and about how vulnerable we are by so much of our info easily obtained by our social security number.

And I am posting it, since it happened in my vacinity...and when I thought about it, I saw it as a possible topic of discussion in a few areas of politics.

OD

I'm gonna find me an illegal alien and give him my social security number so he can work and pay into my retirement.

I've become very concerned about it over the last couple years.

I have actually had junkmail advertisements come to me with x's for my social security and the last four digits clearly printed! I am assuming, if they have the last four digits, they probably have the first five as well. These are ads for credit cards, mortgages, etc. ANYBODY could fill these out - and they already have my social security number as proof of identification.

We had our (second) break in this past year - and they stole very little - but they DID find our cache of not-often-used cards (department stores, gas cards, etc.) and took them. We cancelled them, of course. But, if they had been visas or american expresses, they could have racked up heavy debt in just a few minutes.

I guess the only thing you can do is buy a paper shredder and shred every piece of paper that comes or leaves the house. ugh. But it's better than the stories I've heard from people who have had their identities stolen - it sometimes takes years to get things alright with credit reports, bills, etc.

I had my identity stolen a few years ago, but I have so little ...they gave it back!
That nearly made me feel worse...

OD

I also had my identity stolen. That's why my name is Alias.