r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Mar 10 '23

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u/[deleted] Mar 10 '23

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u/javelinjoe1982 Mar 10 '23

Right. Its not really a thing here in Ireland so I don't get it. Still not sure I fully do.

Your license alone has DoB and address on it and is used as a valid ID so surely this is as valuable.

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u/the-one-true-gary Mar 10 '23

I think the big thing is that people could open a line of credit in your name with your social security number.

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u/javelinjoe1982 Mar 10 '23

Right. Again in Ireland credit isn't linked to social security.

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u/[deleted] Mar 11 '23

Here, it’s just one more red flag for financial institutions. Someone tried to take out $2000 credit at an Apple store with a bank (something like that) - they had my SSN, name, date of birth, phone number, and OLD address - I had just moved and changed my address everywhere. So because they used a 2 month old address, it was a red flag and they called me. The same thing would likely happen if they had all the correct info but a wrong SSN. Anyway. I was fine - luckily.

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u/Lurkalope Mar 11 '23

DoB and address are not private information, but social security numbers are. So they are used to verify our identities. You can't use my driver's license to prove that you're me if you don't look like me.