Quote from steve46:
Your just scatching the tip of the iceberg
When you buy a home, your mortgage broker has your paperwork with your SS# on it. He takes it home with him and leaves it on his dining room table.
Your doctor's office takes your insurance info and there's your SS# again. The office staff has access to it 24/7.
Your bank has it alright, and if you knew that your bank hires high school kids to do the bulk of the scut work, would that make you feel any better?
Buy a car, take the dealer offered finance package and in about a half hour they have your SS# (in order to get your credit score).
Believe me, if someone wants your info and they have the capital to spend, they can have it.
Steve