of course, adding another number is going to make people go "maan!! another number to remember!!", but its similar to ur credit card, just use sparingly :-)

The problem is not about modifying a public record of your data. The problem is a con artist getting enough information about you to convince a bank/whatever to give them money in your name. The SSN is a problem because so much information can be easily looked up with it.

To fix the system, you would need separate information to look up different parts of people's lives so that your IDNumber might give your name and address ( but not financial data ), your CHNumber would give credit history ( but not ID confirmation data like mother's maiden name ) and so on.

There are three problems with this: It's more complicated than the current system, most people are incapable of understanding the problem, and the cat's out of the bag in any case - things can only get worse from now on.

Politicians will impose ID cards to "solve" the problem, but ironically, this will only make the problem worse by making the collection of data by the con artists easier. Some countries in Western Europe have had ID cards since WW2, and their ID fraud problems are as bad as the UK, which hasn't.

why can't you add a PIN number to your ss number that would work like a credit card. that way if your ss number got out it could not be used without the PIN number that you attached to it. you would have protection and a way to prove your identity.

What is wrong with you Social Security number being public?
My name is public, so is my address and phone number (they're both in the phone book). It's jsut a way of looking up records.

Yours - YW 46 40 50 C

The problem isn't the social security number, the problem is what our Government allows persons to do with that number. Having a number to "Help" identify a unique individual is one thing, to allow that number to be used in identity theft is something else.

Adding to the complexity of a number system is NOT the way to go, it just makes it easier for someone to abuse the system. We don't need an ID card, we walk around with unique identifiers every day: our retina, fingerprint, DNA, ...

Anything can be copied and reproduced. If you want a credit card, have the application sent to you in the mail with a chemically treated adhesive strip. It samples your DNA and gets your fingerprint all at the same time. The problem with this is WHO is actually sending you the credit card application, perhaps a thief. So you would be giving out your security information just like you would with a number. Complexity doesn't help, it makes things worse.

If you want to limit the liability you have for someone else's abuse of your information, then have the Government limit the liability you have for someone else's abuse of your information!

Don't let technology fool you into a false sense of security. Any thief can ask you for the same information as a legitimate company or Government office and try to make you liable for their abuse. The only protection you personally have is the protection set up by the Government against such actions. Change your liability.

A company allowed a person to apply for a credit card and purchase some items using my information. They have hounded me every few months for almost 5 years. I refuse to pay, of course. And I have repeatedly offered to pay the entire amount if they will produce a reciept with my signature; they have not. I have had to send this same letter out to every collection agency they have chosen and I have a blemish on my credit report. Fortunately, I have so much good credit it doesn't really matter. But still, this well known company has continued to harrass me and won't honor my request for confirmation of my signature. I certainly do not want to spend any significant money to resolve this. And where I used to shop at that company for many years, and I have not shopped with them since. They are the loser. But still, someone obtained my personal information, probably from U.S. Search, and I have had to deal with the consequences.

The only thing that has protected me overall is that the Government mandates that a legal signature is required for all credit transactions. No signature, the transaction didn't legally take place. The Government limited my liability related to someone elses abuse of my information.