6 Times It's Dangerous to Share Your Social Security Number (And 6 Times It's OK)

Your Social Security number offers an important way to prove your identity when you accept a new job offer or file a tax return. But the number is also a great tool for scammers.

Crooks can use your Social Security number to ruin your financial fitness by opening lines of credit without your knowledge, stealing your identity, or getting access to private information.

Here are some instances where you should — and shouldn’t — give someone your number.

Banks use your Social Security number for a variety of reasons, such as reporting transactions for tax purposes to the government or reviewing your financial information for a loan or other transaction.

They will almost certainly ask for your Social Security number when you open a new bank account, for instance.

You can give bankers your Social Security number in these situations as long as you are careful. Confirm that the banker who is asking for your number is connected to the bank.

Scammers may call you and pretend they are from a financial institution or another official-sounding office so they can ask for your Social Security number.

Don’t give your number to someone who calls you and requests it over the phone. Chances are good that such a request is tied to a scam.

You may be asked to provide your Social Security number and even your Social Security card as part of the onboarding process for a new job.

Companies need to report your employment to the federal government for tax purposes. They also want to make sure you can legally work in the country.

You should only give an employer your Social Security information when it’s requested as part of the paperwork process for your employment.

Don’t include your number on your resume or job application before you are hired. Doing so is not necessary and you don’t want that number falling into the wrong hands.

If you apply for a loan or line of credit, it is virtually certain that you will be asked to reveal your Social Security number.

The lender needs to know your credit standing before deciding whether to issue you the loan or line of credit, and they will need the number as part of the process.

You should be just as wary of someone requesting your Social Security number through email, text, or another form of electronic communication as you would if someone called you for that information.

Not only can such requests be used to scam you, but email messages can be intercepted or hacked.

Businesses involved in a cash transaction of more than $10,000 must report it to the government.

So, if you are part of such a transaction, you will need to provide your Social Security number.

Schools often require you to fill out paperwork when you enroll a child as a student. You might have to provide proof of vaccination for the child or records that show that you reside within a public school district’s boundaries.

But schools shouldn’t ask for your Social Security number as part of this process.

The federal government requires you to furnish your Social Security number in many instances, such as when you file a tax return or enroll in Medicare coverage.

Just be careful, because this is fertile ground for scammers. They might contact you and pretend to be representatives of federal agencies.

Scammers may yell at you, give you a time limit, or use other types of pressure to catch you off guard and make you cough up your Social Security number.

Don’t give your number to anyone who is pressuring you to hand it over. Instead, break off contact with them. Give yourself time to think about why they would need your number. When someone pressures you, it’s a surefire sign of a scam.

The three major credit-reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — all allow you to check your credit report for free weekly. But to do so, you will need to provide your Social Security number.

At minimum, you should check your report annually to make sure everything is correct and to request a fix of any information that is wrong. Checking your report can also help you see if scammers are using your number illegally to open credit accounts in your name.

Businesses such as banks and other financial institutions may need your Social Security number for tax purposes or to check your credit. You also might need to provide your number when you are applying for top rewards credit cards and other forms of plastic.

But that doesn’t mean you should reveal the number to every business.

Don’t reveal your Social Security number to places such as grocery stores, gyms, or other businesses. Instead, politely refuse to give them the number.

If they insist, decline to complete the application or contract and take your business to a less nosy competitor.

Your Social Security number is an important piece of information that could hurt you if it falls into the wrong hands.

Remember that there are times you need to reveal this number, such as when you’re applying for a loan or starting a new job. However, exercising caution about when to give out your Social Security number can help you avoid making mistakes that could hurt you financially.