One of the main reasons why identity theft is so high in the United States is because Americans have to provide their Social Security number as a part of most interactions. Social Security Numbers were never meant to be “one size fits all” primary IDs, but in the majority of situations, that’s exactly what happened. Luckily, there are still a myriad of ways in which you can protect your SSN from identity thieves.

If you want to protect your Social Security number, you should start by regaining full control over who gets it. The fewer places there are, the better. Also, never give your number out just because someone asks you to, and if you do, ask why they need it and how they plan to protect it. If you think your number has been compromised, you should contact Social Security to receive more guidance.