LB in California said: “I recently applied for an HP (Hewlett Packard thru HSBC) credit card. Today, I received a packet for an HSBC product called My Account Protector telling me My HP credit account was now covered. The notice claims I signed up for this service, but I did not do so.
I called the number for My Account Protector as they did not allow cancellation of the service on their website. I spoke to a woman with an African accent who told me she couldn’t cancel my account unless I gave her my social security number.
I told her it was illegal to ask for my SS number. So she asked for my phone number, which I gave her. She told me she found my account, but could not cancel it unless I gave her the last four digits of my SS number.
I told her since I never requested the service, I didn’t feel comfortable giving her any part of my SS number. She told me she couldn’t cancel the account unless I did. Our conversation ended there.”
Editor’s Note: While laws differ in each state, the following pertains to California:
QUESTION: A company I do business with recently called and left a message on my answering machine asking for my SSN and date of birth. I’ve heard one should never give out this information over the phone. Can they do this? Is it normal to ask for this information?
ANSWER: This sounds unusual. You should call the company at a telephone number that you know to be correct and ask them why they want this information.
Usually you are not legally compelled to provide your Social Security number to private businesses unless you are involved in a transaction in which the Internal Revenue Service requires notification.
Additionally, The Patriot Act requires financial institutions to verify customers’ identities, which can involve the SSN. For more information see Fact Sheet 31, available at: www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs31-CIP.htm.
If the company insists on knowing your Social Security number when you cannot see a reason for it, ask to speak to a manager who may be authorized to make an exception or who may know whether company policy or the law requires it.
The same should be true for your date of birth. Remember that the company has the right to refuse you service for failing to provide this information. For additional information on protecting your Social Security number, please see our Fact Sheet 10 at www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs10-ssn.htm.
There is always the possibility that the call might have been from a scam artist. Unfortunately, this type of fraud has been known to occur. In this situation, the caller is NOT from your bank or credit card company, but is a scamster who is attempting to collect your SSN and/or your account number in order to use it to commit identity theft. The best overall advice we can give to you is to NEVER give out such information unless YOU initiate the call.
Related posts:
