Last 4-Digits of SSN=SCAM!!!

[agrissol]

Have I been looking for a place to post this.

It's not bad enough that the job search for people over 50 is fraught with 'age discrimination', 'long-term unemployment discrimination', unscrupulous recruiters who care nothing for your situation but are looking to fill their own quotas, the 'haves' who sit behind the interview table and look down on you just to make them feel empowered, the 'ghosting' from recruiters and hiring managers, HR putting up every conceivable roadblock there is to getting through to a hiring manager, and a host of other job-searching challenges that make this so-called economic boom a complete farce, but add to that despicable recruiters who ask you for the one number that could ruin your life:

THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER!

They justify asking for it by saying it is for so-called employee tracking purposes but that's a 'boldface lie'!

The only reason you should ever give out any part of that number is if you're applying for healthcare, doing your taxes, or getting a passport—maybe a few other legitimate reasons.

But ONLY after you get the job (and it has to be a 'real job') should you give up that number to fill out the W-2 and I-9!

I've gone through extended phone screens where it seems like this is going to be a good opportunity only for them to hit me with that infuriating request.

I get so perturbed and I point out the Carnegie-Mellon study that clearly shows that with the last 4-digits of your SSN, plus the publicly available info (like your birthdate, which sometimes they ask for as well), anyone can glean the rest of your SSN and then STEAL YOUR IDENTITY!

It's not bad enough that you're struggling to find work and put food on the table, while bills keep coming in and you're one month away from being homeless, but then to have these scumbags steal your identity and ruin not only your life, credit, and years of false law enforcement actions, is simply blood-boiling unconscionable!!!