What to do when a employer asks for a ssn?

I've ran across the second company (in my job hunting "career") that asks for a social security number when applying for a job position and I don't believe in giving it to them quite yet. I know it isn't smart to give it to any random craigslist posting but this one happens to be for one of those payday loan places that has half a dozen offices around the city. They ask for it right after registering your name and address which I find it kinda rude. I don't understand why they don't save it until they give you a interview and make a you a offer and ask then? Rather then assume that you really don't care so much about telling a business what it is.

I guess I'll just try to contact them the hard way and see if I can fill out a app. at a office or something. Is it just me that feels this way about this info? Are other people more up front about giving this sort of info? After reading all the tech stories about the security breaches from lazy companies I may be more concerned about this type of info then most people?

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Comments

WilliamK99

Some employers run a local police check before getting you far into the hiring process, which is why they might be asking for it so soon, then again I am in the military and I have to give up my SSN on demand all the time, so I may be wrong....

GT-Rob

They have no reason (or right imo) to ask for it until they are interested in hiring you. If you have to put something in just to fill out the application, just put in all zeros. They can bring it up later if they are interested in you.

networker050184

I just give them a fake social, but maybe one or two numbers off. If they come back interested then I'll give them the real thing, but not before there is some genuine interest from both sides. You can always just say it was a typo if its a big deal. This is the only advice I've actually taken from a recruiter.....

Bl8ckr0uter

Talic wrote: »

I've ran across the second company (in my job hunting "career") that asks for a social security number when applying for a job position and I don't believe in giving it to them quite yet. I know it isn't smart to give it to any random craigslist posting but this one happens to be for one of those payday loan places that has half a dozen offices around the city. They ask for it right after registering your name and address which I find it kinda rude. I don't understand why they don't save it until they give you a interview and make a you a offer and ask then? Rather then assume that you really don't care so much about telling a business what it is.

I guess I'll just try to contact them the hard way and see if I can fill out a app. at a office or something. Is it just me that feels this way about this info? Are other people more up front about giving this sort of info? After reading all the tech stories about the security breaches from lazy companies I may be more concerned about this type of info then most people?

They probably are trying to run you social and get your credit score. I would tell them you can't give it to them.

CompuTron99

networker050184 wrote: »

I just give them a fake social, but maybe one or two numbers off. If they come back interested then I'll give them the real thing, but not before there is some genuine interest from both sides. You can always just say it was a typo if its a big deal. This is the only advice I've actually taken from a recruiter.....

What are the odds that the fake SSN is an actually SSN for somebody with a bad criminal record? Hahaha

undomiel

I always put available upon job offer. I don't believe in leaving my SSN up to their security measures, nor in giving up that much disclosure right off the bat.

dynamik

Yea, I'd wait until it was nearly a done deal before giving them anything.

rsutton

I'm stingy when it comes to giving out my SSN. I would never give it out until I reach a formal deal with a company. I would also be weary of a company asking for SSN's as part of their screening process. Identity theft can take years to recover from, don't mess around with your important information.

Talic

I did try the all zeros thing, it came back as saying someone already had the number. I did try to skip it but it told me it was required to move on with the application process. The only thing I can think of is to put in a fake number but as Compu said, it might be someone else with a bad record. Although, if the SSN doesn't match up with your name wouldn't they know that isn't you and you may of gave them the wrong number? I think I'm just going to give them a number that's a two numbers off or so and give them the right number if they are interested.

Thanks for the tips guys

pipemajor

Never. If they are serious enough to want to run a background/credit check then they need to be serious enough to make an offer.

I had one of these recruiters cold call me about "an opportunity" he had. We did exchange emails to send him an MS-Word resume but he quickly wanted to "pre-approve" me to the client. I said "No, I don't give that information out over the phone." He had a heavy Indian accent.

After we parted ways I did some research on his company's website and lodged a complaint. A manager replied and told me their recruiters will NEVER ask a potential candidate for this information and to treat the contact as fraudulent. I think we determined this guy was affilitate with the firm but I told the manager considered the contact "unprofessional".

Of course, I never heard back from them again.

Kasor

I will not give them the SSN until you are confirm for hire. It is not making any sense at all, even it required basic police check. Usually, it is handle when you are confirm for the position.

Look for something else.... You will need a job, but re-build your identity and credit take much harder work than find a job.

Paul Boz

You guys are making me laugh. You need two hands to count the number of organizations that have your financial information and social security information. Ever been to college? Yeah they have it on file. Ever been to the hospital? They have it too. Your bank? probably. Your previous employers? yep them too. All of these organizations are susceptible to data loss and identity theft. I do social engineering as a part of my job and I've probably "stolen" over 20k social security numbers and bank account numbers from various banks and credit unions around the country. Obviously by stolen I mean "was paid by the organization to walk in as a pest inspector and steal their data then returned it without reading it." I've also gotten just as many digits through penetration testing of their data networks. I'd say that roughly 100% of all banks and credit unions are susceptible to data loss by malicious employees.

As long as you watch your credit scores and don't post your SSN on IRC or message boards you're straight.

That being said, there's a lot of REALLY bad advice in here. Giving them a fake number? Yeah that'll lose you any possible chance with that company. Refusing to give it up? You must be hiding something - NEXT!

Remember, you can be responsible with your SSN without being stupid with it.

msteinhilber

The only jobs that I have applied for where a SSN was requested have been state and federal jobs. Most of these are online systems where you are required to input a SSN to submit an application with your resume attached. Most of these systems have disclaimers that hold you liable for knowingly providing false information (the fed's threaten possible jailtime should they desire I believe, although unlikely I suppose). Federal jobs require it under executive order 9397 and will not process applications on the USAJobs.gov website without a SSN.

Realistically though, I agree with much of what Paul has posted. If it's a reputable organization (not some small shop I've never heard of) and they request the SSN, I might inquire a bit about why they need it up front and if they provide a valid case I'll have no problem giving it out. The truth is as Paul pointed out is our SSN's are so widely insecure where we bank, hold lines of credit, attend school, work or have worked, so many eyes have access to it that a couple more aren't going to bother me as long as the company seems reputable.

I also agree with giving out a bogus SSN and claiming you made an accident. That has to be some of the worst advice I've ever heard and I think it speaks a lot about a person's character if they are willing to do so. Either give out your valid SSN, or simply decline and state your reasons why to the employer and offer to pass along your SSN at the appropriate time of the hiring process when it's needed.

undomiel

Paul Boz wrote: »

You need two hands to count the number of organizations that have your financial information and social security information. Ever been to college? Yeah they have it on file. Ever been to the hospital? They have it too. Your bank? probably. Your previous employers? yep them too. All of these organizations are susceptible to data loss and identity theft.

Which is all the more reason to limit who has your SSN. Less people you have to count on to take proper care of it. So there is no reason to give it out willy nilly. If there was a company requiring me to give out my SSN without giving me a job offer, I would pass. I've done it before and I will do it again I'm sure.