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Career Help and Advice

Pool Hall Ace

(5,851 posts) Fri Jul 20, 2012, 10:16 PM Jul 2012

Company asking for last four digits of SSN

What is your take on a company asking for the last four digits of your Social Security number on the application? From a Google search, it seems that it is legal in most states, but still not recommended to give it out.

Should I enter a fake number? This is an online application, and I can't just skip it.

2 replies

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Company asking for last four digits of SSN (Original Post) Pool Hall Ace Jul 2012 OP

Often there's an alternative, city of birth, mother's maiden name, etc. NYC_SKP Jul 2012 #1

BofA does that panAmerican Nov 2012 #2

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

1. Often there's an alternative, city of birth, mother's maiden name, etc.

Reply to Pool Hall Ace (Original post)

Fri Jul 20, 2012, 10:20 PM

Jul 2012

I wouldn't give it up easily.

panAmerican

(1,206 posts)

2. BofA does that

Reply to Pool Hall Ace (Original post)

Thu Nov 22, 2012, 05:37 AM

Nov 2012

I wouldn't do it unless it's a very well-known company or recruiter. The reason I was told BofA does it, is to identify applicants regardless of of name changes, name variations, and especially to identify former employees who aren't eligible for rehire.

In my view, this isn't worth the hassle.

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