While there are certain situations where you may need to give someone your social security number, you need to agree to do this with caution. It is easy for someone to take that number and use it in any manner they want, taking your identity and running up a bunch of debts under your name. When this happens, it becomes really hard for you to regain your reputation and it could take years before you can get things back on track again.

This is why you need to be careful about which organizations you give your social security number to. Some will legitimately need this information to work with you. For example, the IRS or your employer will need this in order to file the right taxes. Those who legitimately need these will ask you specifically for it and will never text, email, or call you about that information.

It is possible that other organizations will ask for your social security number, but it is not always necessary for them to have it. These could include your child’s school, a company, or your medical provider. You can choose whether to hand over the information to these groups, but make sure you ask a few important questions first. These questions include:

# Why do you need my social security number?

# How will you make sure my social security number is protected?

# Can you use a different identifier rather than my social security number?

# Can you get by with just the last four digits of my social security number?

It is always best to limit the number of organizations that you give your social security number out to. The more people you give this number to, the more likely it is that you will have someone gain access to the information and use it the way that they want. Try to limit exposure of the number so that it is harder for someone to steal your finances and your identity and monitor your credit score to catch issues as soon as possible.

Identity theft is a big problem that many consumers need to worry about. When you are not careful with the people you give this number to, you can end up with a lot of trouble in the process. If you suspect that you have become a victim for identity theft, you will need to look for a lawyer for identity theft victims to help you get to the bottom of the problem and finally get your finances and reputation back on track. Take the time to research your options to make sure the identity theft is stopped in its tracks.