September 2007
Widespread use of Social Security numbers worries most Americans
Nearly 90 percent of Americans were asked to divulge their full or partial Social Security number in the last year, often
to businesses with no clear need for that information, a new Consumers Union poll has found. Close to the same percentage
of people want restrictions on the use of their numbers to minimize theft and misuse.
The poll, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, also revealed that in the last year, 60 percent of consumers were asked to share their numbers with a financial institution or a retailer issuing credit, while 49 percent were asked by health-care providers.
Many requests came from businesses without an obvious need for the customer’s Social Security number, including cable TV or cell phone carriers (26 percent), utilities (17 percent), and retailers (16 percent).
The poll found that 78 percent of consumers preferred not to provide their numbers but were concerned about the consequences of refusing. Ninety-one percent agreed that they were more vulnerable to identity theft when a business had their number, and 89 percent wanted companies to stop using Social Security numbers to identify customers.
“Americans are clearly concerned that the widespread use of Social Security numbers puts them at risk of fraud and want lawmakers to restrict this practice,” said Jeannine Kenney, Senior Policy Analyst at Consumers Union, the nonprofit organization that publishes Consumer Reports.
Consumers Union released the poll results in comments filed with the Federal Trade Commission, which is studying the collection and use of Social Security numbers by the private sector. Consumers Union recommends that the sale and purchase of the numbers be tightly restricted and that solicitation be prohibited except where required by law, or where needed for credit, employment, tax compliance, or investment purposes.
Find more information about the poll as well as how best to protect your Social Security number at ConsumersUnion.org.
The poll, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, also revealed that in the last year, 60 percent of consumers were asked to share their numbers with a financial institution or a retailer issuing credit, while 49 percent were asked by health-care providers.
Many requests came from businesses without an obvious need for the customer’s Social Security number, including cable TV or cell phone carriers (26 percent), utilities (17 percent), and retailers (16 percent).
The poll found that 78 percent of consumers preferred not to provide their numbers but were concerned about the consequences of refusing. Ninety-one percent agreed that they were more vulnerable to identity theft when a business had their number, and 89 percent wanted companies to stop using Social Security numbers to identify customers.
“Americans are clearly concerned that the widespread use of Social Security numbers puts them at risk of fraud and want lawmakers to restrict this practice,” said Jeannine Kenney, Senior Policy Analyst at Consumers Union, the nonprofit organization that publishes Consumer Reports.
Consumers Union released the poll results in comments filed with the Federal Trade Commission, which is studying the collection and use of Social Security numbers by the private sector. Consumers Union recommends that the sale and purchase of the numbers be tightly restricted and that solicitation be prohibited except where required by law, or where needed for credit, employment, tax compliance, or investment purposes.
Find more information about the poll as well as how best to protect your Social Security number at ConsumersUnion.org.
