Many people mistakenly think that an SSN search is only for those conducting business. In fact, a SSN search is beneficial to a wide range of people, including you. Since your social security number is an essential part of how the world sees you, it is important to search yourself to find out what is out there.

The information contained in social security records is invaluable. Not to mention, it is also a good way to protect yourself against identity theft.

How does a Thief Steal Identity with a Social Security Number?

A thief who knows your social can easily steal your identity. By knowing some basic information about the victim, the thief can use that as proof they are the victim. Once they have your personal information, the thief can then claim with proof, they are who they are claiming to be. The victim has no way of knowing their identity is even compromised.

Protect your ID with Regular Monitoring

Your best protection is vigilance. If you regularly monitor your SSN records, then you will know immediately when someone tries to steal your identity. The second they open a bank account, you will know where they are and what they are doing. There is no better protection against identity theft than catching it before it starts.

How Else Can a Social Security Search Help?

Since the social security number is directly related to a given person, it is easy to track someone through the social security number. Even after a person dies, the social security number is updated. Many professional and amateur genealogists use the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) to trace records of the deceased.

The SSDI contains the basic information on the person. Looking through it, you can find:

• Name
• Birth Date
• Birth Place
• Place of Death
• Date of Death
• Last Known Address

This is great information for anyone trying to trace lineage or find family. Once you have a name, date of death, and place of death you can easily find obituaries that list surviving family members. Of course, you can search death records without all that information but it does make it easier.

Curious about your social security number? You can conduct your own SSN search now and find out what information is out there about you. You might be surprised by what you find.

Re-Tweet This Post RSS

A lot of people have a criminal past that will come up in a check of social security records and that doesn’t necessarily make them evil.  There are levels and levels of law breaking.

Do You Know Whom You Are Dealing With?

This isn’t to excuse breaking the law, but there is a large difference between the career criminal who is never likely to change and the person who screwed up once, or even a few times, but eventually learned their lesson and is working to be better.  The question is, which kind of person are you dealing with?

Neither one is going to be thrilled to reveal their background unless they have to.  One, in order to keep doing as they have been, the other because it can be very difficult to convince people you are not the risk you appear to be. However, one is more likely to tell the truth when asked.

Help Finding Social Security Records

This is where having a reputable agency run a background check for criminal records comes in.  There are times when you can trust and times when you shouldn’t.

Check the Social Security Records of an Employee

If someone is going to be in your employ for any reason, a check on that person is wise.  Not only does it help protect you from physical or fiscal harm, but there are times when being ignorant of a person’s past can lead you to be implicated in their crimes.  Even the innocent can have a hard time extricating themselves from some situations.

By the same token, even if the person isn’t going to be working for you, but will have unfettered access to your children and your home, doing a social security records check can save you all.

Re-Tweet This Post RSS