ACCOUNT NUMBERS

Your Social Security number, Driver’s License number, Bank Account numbers and Date of Birth are private. Do not give them out indiscriminately.

You should not give your Social Security number to the police or any government agency other than the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Selective Service System, a branch of the United States Armed Forces, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Education or a Department of Social and Health Services.

You should not give your Social Security number when you get your next driver’s license or register to vote. These agencies have public records. Anyone is entitled to get this information, and go from there to get more information about you. State Departments of Motor Vehicles sell this information. That is why they ask for your Social Security number.

The only private companies required to have your Social Security number are those reporting income of yours to the Social Security Administration or Internal Revenue Service, such as employers, financial institutions, corporations that you hold stock in, etc. They do not need your Driver’s License number, Date of Birth or other Bank Account numbers. It is not necessary to give your Social Security number, Driver’s License number or other identification in order to open a checking account. A signature is all that is necessary. Financial institutions sell this information. Look elsewhere. There are plenty of financial institutions that want your business. Employers are required to have your Social Security number only after you are hired. They are not entitled to receive it prior to hiring.

What can someone do with a Social Security number? All major credit reporting agencies list you by your Social Security number. Other national “Big Brother” information agencies are compiling lists by Social Security numbers. Private information to be sold to anyone for a price.

Thieves have filed phony Income Tax Returns with real Social Security Numbers and their owners names, but different addresses for big refunds. Who does the Internal Revenue Service go after for this money? You guessed it. Many times, this data is obtained by computer hackers, sometimes from medical providers.

When you apply for credit, they want all of this information. Consider how much you want or need the credit. If you apply for credit, to rent or for employment and do not give this information, are subsequently turned down or not hired, consider filing a discrimination suit.

With Date of Birth, anyone can get your Driver’s License number. The only ones that legitimately need your Driver’s License number besides the police are auto insurance agents and companies. Get a statement from them that the information will not be given out or sold. They not only sell this information themselves, but contract with investigative agencies for a report on you. These investigative agencies compile and then resell the information.

When you write a check, they want your Driver’s License number. Of course, there are a lot of rubber checks written. Consider paying cash. Some stores now want your Driver’s License number when you return goods previously purchased. Unless they have signs posted notifying of their policy regarding the return of goods that gives notice of this requirement, then refuse. Threaten a civil tort suit and the filing of a complaint charging criminal fraud with the attorney general or district attorney. Boycott the bastards. Tell your friends.

With Bank Account numbers, anyone can put in a “demand draft” to your bank and get money. Sometimes, this is limited only to checking accounts. You cannot even put in a stop payment in advance. The only thing you can do is file a civil tort suit against the entity that put in the demand. You can sue the bank. However under current laws, you will probably not be successful.

Write to your elected representatives. Demand that they legislate against these practices that invade your privacy and place your life savings in jeopardy of thieves. Demand that the Medicare number you have to give to healthcare providers be different from your Social Security number. Demand that the United States Attorney General enforce prevailing laws that restrict the demand for these numbers, particularly by government agencies.

www.uslawbooks.com/travel/travelcites.htm

http://dir.yahoo.com/Recreation/Automotive/Licensing_and_Registration/Government_Agencies/United_States/

ACCOUNT NUMBERS

by Robert A. Kroboth www.citizengadfly.com

Please print and distribute copies of this publication and put this link on your web site.

www.citizengadfly.com/DOCS/N/N-NUMBERS.htm

There is enough good sense

in the American people

to battle every attempt

against their liberty.

Alexander Hamilton