Wow. I just went out on People Search for geneology

[leftyladyfrommo]

and they have everyone's social security number listed there.

I was trying to find something out about an old friend that I have lost touch with and there were all the people of that name listed along with their SS #'s.

I guess we might as well not even bother with security anymore. Nothing is secure anywhere.

[DURHAM D]

1. I assume the SS#s are for deceased people only.

First time I saw my grandfather's SS# I was a little taken aback but then realized he had been dead for 40 years.

Note: SS#s can not be reused.

[HopeHoops]

3. Actually, I think they can - it is something like 20 years. Don't remember for sure.

[TBF]

5. No they don't -

Q20: Are Social Security numbers reused after a person dies?

A: No. We do not reassign a Social Security number (SSN) after the number holder's death. Even though we have issued over 415 million SSNs so far, and we assign about 5 and one-half million new numbers a year, the current numbering system will provide us with enough new numbers for several generations into the future with no changes in the numbering system.

http://www.ssa.gov/history/hfaq.html

[SheilaT]

2. Would you like to be a little more specific?

I just checked my own name out on People Search through Yahoo, and my SSN was not there.

[Gold Metal Flake]

4. peoplesearch dot com?

The results take you to people finders dot com?

[CountAllVotes]

6. they are in the SSDI (SS death index)

This is for dead people however. I don't see social security #'s on people search either.

http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

Maybe you could be more specific re: your findings (?).

:dem:

[DURHAM D]

7. Why ? when being an alarmist is so much more fun. nt

[kestrel91316]

8. The Social Security Death Index is widely used by genealogists including me.

It lists DEATHS and along with other data, the SS#'s of those DEAD people.

It cannot contribute in any way to identity theft from living people, nor does it violate our privacy BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DEAD.

[kestrel91316]

9. Dupe - internet burp.