This thread is meant as a friendly reminder that you only have ONE social security number.
Unlike phone numbers, emails, addresses, credit card numbers, etc, when your SSN gets compromised, you just CANNOT get a new one issued.
That’s why I advise you - absolutely do NOT INPUT IT to ANY PLACE on the internet, regardless of how “safe and secure” it seems. Every single site on the internet can have a data breach sooner or later, which would also include your SSN.
If your SSN gets breached, many scammers can easily access it. Then they can use it for various activities, ranging from sending it to you via email to creating an entire fake identity.
So, inputting it to Amazon just to get your account unrestricted is honestly the dumbest thing you can do with your SSN.
Keep your SSN safe. Only write it on an official document issued by the government, as the government and you are the only 2 entities which should know your SSN.
Okay, maybe the thread is a little bit spammy, however I absolutely do not understand how some of you, @Luke, can just input it to a website that asks for it.
Clearly stated that a tax file number cannot be used for identification. Very different thing. My USI (unique student identifier) could give more information than my tax file number. lol
In certain cases Amazon will require your social security number. If you want to get paid for streaming on Twitch once you’re an affiliate then they need your social security number to allow them to pay you. It’s essentially like applying for a job, and in this case, if they didn’t have your social security number then you wouldn’t be filing taxes on payments recieved by Twitch, which would be illegal.
Amazon are also pretty quick to let you know when the security of your account has been compromised, and if you’re protecting your account with all of the recourses that are provided and available to you, then you shouldn’t have to worry about your account being breached.
Realistically it won’t be possible to go your entire life without disclosing your social security number to a company that legally requires it at some point, whether that’s by enetering it online or providing it another way. Saying that the government and you are the only entities that should know your social security number is completely false.
This is just their legal excuse to do this crap. And when they have a data breach, what do you do when your SSN gets leaked? Nothing, you just watch how scammers make a fake identity off you and ruin your life.
Then as you’ve said, make sure to protect it. You most likely won’t be able to go through your life without needing to provide it to someone that isn’t the government though.
What? I’m not telling you to share your SSN to anyone on the phone, I’m literally just saying that it’s necessary for Twitch affiliate payments, otherwise you and Amazon would be breaking the law.
(Sidenote, I could also say the exact same thing about your Nintendo threads)
