10 Places Where You Should Never Give Your Social Security Number

These are the places where you should never give your social security number so it doesn't fall into the wrong hands — and what to do if it does.

Image of a lock in front of a Social Security card.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Times change, and the places where you should never give your Social Security number are not as obvious as they might have once been. Safeguarding your Social Security number is one of the best ways to prevent identity theft. Not only should you never carry your Social Security card in your wallet or purse, but you should rarely give out your Social Security number. The more places that have your Social Security number, the more at risk it is of falling into the wrong hands. 

In fact, several of the riskiest places to give out your Social Security number might even surprise you.

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Cameron Huddleston
Former Online Editor, Kiplinger.com

Award-winning journalist, speaker, family finance expert, and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk.

Cameron Huddleston wrote the daily "Kip Tips" column for Kiplinger.com. She joined Kiplinger in 2001 after graduating from American University with an MA in economic journalism.

With contributions from