SSNs
Nine-digit federal identifiers
SSNs is the plural of SSN, the abbreviation for Social Security number—the nine-digit identifier assigned to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary workers for tax and benefit purposes.
SSNs function as de facto national ID numbers despite not being designed for that purpose: The data breach exposed millions of SSNs.
Because SSNs are difficult to change and widely used for identity verification, their theft enables fraud.
Stealing personal data criminally
- stolen identityFraudulent use of another's information
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- impersonationPretending to be another
fraudulent · misuse · black market · dark web · tax fraud · data breach · compromised · exploitation
Federal tax collector
- Social Security AdministrationAgency managing retirement benefits
- MedicareFederal senior health program
- MedicaidPublic health coverage for poor
- federal benefitsGovernment-funded citizen aid
taxation · tax return · W-2 · I-9 · employment verification · government agency · entitlements · federal records
Meant to stay secret
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- protectedKept from harm
- encryptedTransformed into cipher
- anonymizedMade untraceable to individuals
redacted · masked · private · non-disclosure · identity theft · data breach · exposed · compromised
Employee tax withholding certificate
- I-9Work eligibility form
- payrollStaff wages collectively
- new hireRecently employed staff member
- background checkInvestigation of someone's history
employment verification · onboarding · tax withholding · employer · job application · work authorization · direct deposit · personnel file
Fiscal identity number
- national IDState-issued citizen document
- birth registrationRecording a newborn officially
- unique identifierUnrepeated distinguishing code
- identity verificationConfirming someone's claimed self
legal identity · identity document · identification card · personal record
Record of borrowing behavior
- credit scoreNumerical measure of borrower reliability
- bank accountFinancial storage for funds
- credit cardBorrowed-funds payment tool
- mortgageSecured home loan
credit check · credit bureau · Equifax · Experian · TransUnion · financial records · credit history · credit freeze
identity theft
Stealing personal data criminally
- stolen identityFraudulent use of another's information
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
impersonation · fraudulent · misuse · black market · dark web · tax fraud · data breach · compromised · exploitation · cybercrime
IRS
Federal tax collector
- Social Security AdministrationAgency managing retirement benefits
- MedicareFederal senior health program
- MedicaidPublic health coverage for poor
federal benefits · taxation · tax return · W-2 · I-9 · employment verification · government agency · entitlements · federal records · compliance
confidential
Meant to stay secret
anonymized · redacted · masked · private · non-disclosure · identity theft · data breach · exposed · compromised · leaked
W-4
Employee tax withholding certificate
background check · employment verification · onboarding · tax withholding · employer · job application · work authorization · direct deposit · personnel file · employment eligibility
taxpayer ID
Fiscal identity number
- national IDState-issued citizen document
- birth registrationRecording a newborn officially
- unique identifierUnrepeated distinguishing code
identity verification · legal identity · identity document · identification card · personal record
credit report
Record of borrowing behavior
- credit scoreNumerical measure of borrower reliability
- bank accountFinancial storage for funds
- credit cardBorrowed-funds payment tool
mortgage · credit check · credit bureau · Equifax · Experian · TransUnion · financial records · credit history · credit freeze · fraud alert
SSNsfingerprints
Ridge patterns identifying individuals
biometrics · facial recognition · retinal scans · DNA · iris scans