5 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft From Using Social Security Numbers

By Alicia G. Limtiaco
For Pacific Daily News

The Federal Trade Commission on Dec. 18 issued a report that outlined five ways to help prevent Social Security numbers from being used for identity theft.

Among the report's recommendations is that the U.S. Congress consider taking action "to strengthen the procedures that private-sector organizations use to authenticate their customers' "identities," according to the FTC.

"Identity theft continues to be a major problem in this country, with victims numbering in the millions each year and out-of-pocket losses ... in the billions of dollars," the report states.

Adopting Standards

The FTC report states that adopting standards for how businesses and other organizations verify the identity of new and existing customers would make more difficult for identity thieves to use Social Security numbers and other stolen information to carry out their fraud. The report also recommends that steps be taken to reduce the unnecessary display and transmission of Social Security numbers, but noted that restrictions should be approached carefully.

"The first step in minimizing the role of Social Security numbers in identity theft is to limit the demand for Social Security numbers by making it more difficult for thieves to use them to pen new accounts, access existing accounts, or obtain other benefits or services," the FTC stated in its report.
The commission vote to issue the report was 4-0, and was developed pursuant to a recommendation of the President's Identity Theft Task Force, according to the FTC.

The report is backed by extensive fact-finding by the FTC and other federal agencies. The report also seeks to enhance the coordination and information-sharing among organizations that routinely use Social Security numbers, and recommends steps to improve data security, and increase outreach to consumers and businesses on the protection of Social Security numbers.

Alicia G. Limtiaco is the attorney general of Guam.

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Click here for the FTC press release