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.

Why do an SSN lookup?

Employment Check – There are many reasons to use an SSN check. The most widely used reason is for an employment background check. Whether you own a large business, want to hire a crew for your home, or simply want to hire a nanny, a social security check will provide you the information you need on anyone.

Nosey Neighbor - Sometimes people just want to be nosey. They are curious about co-workers, neighbors, and other people in their lives. Then they get their hands on this juicy piece of information and cannot resist. They just simply must look up all the information they can. (This is another reason to keep you SSN well-guarded.)

Finding Someone - If you have a social security number, tracking down a lost loved one is super simple. You can check all kinds of records to find out where they are now. Parents often have their children’s SSN. Ex-husbands and ex-wives can find the SSN on old tax records. If you shared a bank account with someone, it might be there as well.

The SSN gives more info than you think

It is a little known fact, that you do not even need a search to find some valuable information from a social. Since 1973, all social security numbers have been given from a central office and that number is based on where you live. Even before 1973, the numbers were based on where you live but it was given by a district office.

This means that if you have the first three digits of the SSN, then you now know what state they received their SSN. This is crucial anytime you are trying to locate someone. Any information you can get is good information.

You can find a complete list of the states and their corresponding numbers at the Social Security Number Verification Service website.

Where to conduct a SSN search

Since the SSN is very private, you will not want to trust the number to just any database. You will want to make sure they keep the searches confidential and private. For a quick and easy SSN lookup try a professional that guarantees your satisfaction.

Recovering from Stolen Identity

Once your identity has been stolen it can be a matter of moments that causes a loss of control over you life.  Credit cards, bad loans and stolen bank accounts are just the beginning of your troubles, and it can take years to recover your credit history and score.

Conduct a Social Security Search

Still, a social security search is the best way to investigate someone and get accurate information about them and their financial situation.  The solution to this seeming dilemma is to use a private company to search out information about someone using their social security number.

Creditors, banks, medical institutions and the federal government, as well as a select number of others have the right to search a person’s history utilizing their social security number.  Several online companies can access the same information discreetly, providing you with accurate information.

Does “googling” a Name Work?

As we all know, a quick search on Google for a specific individual can produce mixed results.  The more you know about the person you are investigating the better your odds of finding the right individual, but it can be a hit or miss proposition.

If you ever want to see how erratic the results are, see what you can pull up on your own name.  You are more likely to find your Facebook page than you are to find any useful information.

If what you need is accurate, reliable information, choose a reputable online search service and let them do the work for you.  Once you have the basics, you may very well be able to track down all the documents you need on your own and become your own private eye.  Here is a site that we found that will conduct a social security search.