Identity Theft and Protecting Service Member's Social Security Numbers
Abstract
The Social Security Act of 1935 created social security numbers as a part of the New Deal Social Security Program. They were created to guarantee American workers received the proper proceeds for income rerouted into the social security program and limited purpose of tracking social security benefits. Over time, technology advancements and computers allowed government and business to become more efficient. Laws became more relaxed in reference to the use of social security numbers and agencies began to track, account, and pay each individual based on name and social security number. Organizations began using social security numbers as the primary source of personal identification. Today, your personal identity (name) and social security number is directly linked to your credit. Criminals only need your social security number and address or phone number to steal your identity, ruin your credit, or gain access to financial accounts. With advances in computer technology and expanded use of database resources which store personal information, identity theft has become one of the nation's fastest growing crimes. Service members are required to have a military identification card on which the full social security number is prominently displayed. Additionally, almost every personnel or medical transaction begins with providing your social security number to an agent of the government. Service member were required to provide their social security number for activities not related to finance. The common use of the social security number became an efficient means to process any activity for each service member. A creep set in which social security numbers was used as an identification number, and unintentionally exposed service members to the risk of identity theft. During each deployment or permanent change of station service members printed orders contain full socials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA538876
Entities
People
- Todd A. Bean
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College