High-tech Social Security cards may join battle against ID theft

[flashl]

Source: Chicago Tribune

2 lawmakers expected to introduce bill that will make cards, IDs safer

In an effort to help combat identity theft and fraud, two Illinois congressmen are expected to introduce legislation Tuesday they hope will enhance the security features of Social Security cards.

The proposed cards would feature a photograph and fingerprint, as well as a computer chip, bar code and magnetic strip. The cards would be modeled after the Common Access Card issued by the Department of Defense, mostly to active military reserve members and their dependents, said U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), a sponsor of the bill. Current Social Security cards have limited security features and have no photo or biometric data, he said.

"One of the ways that modern criminals use to attack ... is by falsifying or counterfeiting Social Security cards," Kirk said. "We think that a Social Security card should be hard to forge that it should also make it easy to catch an identity-theft crime."

...

The new cards would also enable employers to verify their employees' Social Security numbers more easily, Roskam said.

Chicago Tribuine

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-securitycard_12feb12,1,2866582.story?ctrack=6&cset=true

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It appears that the vendor of the DoD cards is promoting their product to the states. Just who will be responsible for obtaining, maintaining, and protecting the biometric data?

[unhappycamper]

1. Agent Mikey.

[Thothmes]

2. Impractical

to some extent. Doesn't IRS rules require a parent to get their kids SSN, very early to claim them income taxes. A person would have to have new cards issued several times through at least their teen years.

[SpiralHawk]

3. "Can't we just put a bar code on the proles' foreheads?" - Commander AWOL

[flashl]

9. For the fashion conscious or for those who worry about that beast look ...

Verichip is the way to go, all generations are targeted, uh, could benefit.

Infant protection

Wander prevention

Patient identification

And, there's employee identification.

[sarcasmo]

11. You have it correct, they call it a retina scan.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

4. What the....

I thought the rethugs wanted to get rid of SocialSecurity, now thew want to police it? :wtf:

[Thor_MN]

5. WTF? The SSA says NOT to carry your card in your wallet.

This has no effect at all on identity theft, when was the last time you actually showed your Social Security card to anyone? Identity theft comes in when an SSN is used as your password, to prove your identity. If they want to use it as your identity, your account number, i.e. your user ID, no problems - it's just a unique number designating you.

If it's used as your password, THAT is the problem. If anyone ever askes you to give them part or all of your SSN to prove who you are, rip them a new one, refuse to allow your SSN be used as your password and demand they use some other way to verify your identity. They can not, by law, deny your request for an alternative.

Think of it this way, all of you with just my account number could deposit money into my bank account. To get money out, however, you need to prove your identity with a driver's license. Now reverse the situation, if you needed a drivers license to deposit, but only the account number to withdraw...

The only time you really need the card itself these days is when you are applying ofr a new job, so this has to be an anti-immigration deal combined with siphoning tax dollars into the pockets of GOP cronies.

[Mojorabbit]

6. They are trying

every which way to get everybody's fingerprints. Good grief.

[kineneb]

7. since when are there any security features on a SocSec card?

Mine is just a piece of paper with the number on it.

[sutz12]

8. I seem to recall a day when using an SSN for ID was illegal. nt

:shrug:

[Indy Lurker]

12. Not to be used for Identification

My SS card actually has the words "Not to be used for Identification" printed on it.

[Zuiderelle]

10. What an incredibly dumb idea.

[pitohui]

13. stupid question but who actually has a social security card and why?

i don't have such a card, don't think i've seen one since i was a child, which was quite a few mumble years ago

it's the NUMBER that is insecure, not a card that no one in their right mind carries anyway

and the number is insecure because it has already been splashed about in too many places where it is not kept safe, such as doctor's offices, random health insurance forms, random casinos where you're claiming a jackpot and so on -- heck, i once had a casino request the number for a $20 prize (i'm afraid i was naughty and simply invented something)