Help Secure Your Social Security Number!
- by: Care2
- recipient: U.S. Congress
Did you know that no law prohibits a company from selling your social security number on the open market? And companies routinely display it on cards for your wallet or on your mail -- making it easier for ID thieves to steal what they need to pose as you.
Social Security number security is long past due. A bill headed to the House floor would stop the widespread and unnecessary sale, purchase and display of Social Security numbers by government and businesses. Urge your House member to support H.R. 3046.
But lobbyists representing corporations that benefit from easy access to your social security number want loopholes that would gut this proposal and leave you vulnerable.
Help us keep this bill strong. Tell your lawmaker that strong protections matter to you!
I urge you to support and urge passage of H.R. 3046, the Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2007. If you have already told the sponsor you support the bill, please tell me what else I can do to make sure this important bill passes.
H.R. 3046 would go far in deterring the widespread and unnecessary sale, purchase and display of social security numbers (SSNs) that contribute to the identity theft epidemic that affects approximately 10 million Americans every year.
My SSN is bought and sold by businesses like a commodity in trade. The widespread sale of SSNs to the highest bidder makes it too easy for my number to fall into the wrong hands. And the overreliance of business on SSNs to both identify consumers and then verify that identity has made SSNs a valuable piece of information for crooks seeking to open up new accounts in my name.
The business of buying and selling SSNs must stop except for limited and necessary purposes, like law enforcement and national security. And no one should be able to display my SSN on the public Internet , or on ID or membership cards, or offer it for sale to anyone wishing to buy it.
I also urge you to oppose efforts by the financial services and databroker industries to punch dangerous holes in this legislation. H.R. 3046 already provides for necessary exemptions for law enforcement, public health and safety. It already addresses well-defined, legitimate business needs for the SSN. The bill allows consumer reporting agencies to continue to purchase and sell SSNs when necessary to extend credit. Any other exceptions would render the bill's protections ineffective.
Social security numbers provide the key to my financial identity. The widespread use of SSNs as both authenticators and identifiers has long been a problem for consumers like myself. This legislation, H.R. 3046 will go far to remedy the unnecessary and widespread availability of my SSN and help reduce identity theft.
Please make sure that H.R. 3046 remains protective, without additional exceptions and that it is implemented this year.
[Your Comments]
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
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