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5 ways to expose yourself to identity theft

Don't carry your Social Security card
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Never carry a Social Security card, whether it's your own or your spouse's, parent's, child's or other family member's, in your wallet. You'll need your Social Security number to start a new job, apply for a mortgage or open a bank account, but other than those and a few other rare situations, most people don't need to give out their Social Security number on a day-to-day basis. Another tip: Don't write a Social Security number on a scrap of paper and carry that in your wallet instead of a Social Security card. If your wallet is lost or stolen, a person of criminal intent can easily guess what those nine digits are.


 

 

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