werner@utastro.UUCP (09/21/83)
SSN abuse - a new variant ============================================ in the Austin Shopping Guide of Sept 21, 83, page 35 (a "free" ad-rag) is a 1-page ad: WIN $50.00 in the Austin Shopping Guide's Social Security Sweepstakes Contest They want your SSN and don't say what they will do with it. Makes me angry because I am paranoid and fear the WORST. I sit legal ? Can anything done about it ?
crandell@ut-sally.UUCP (09/22/83)
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Newsgroup net.legal
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Article 94 of 95, Mon 05:32.
Subject: Re: Hacking soon to become illegal in NJ...
From: joeh@dartvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame,net.singles,net.legal,net.misc
(7 lines) More? [ynq] crandell@ut-sally.UUCP (09/22/83)
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chris@grkermit.UUCP (Chris Hibbert) (09/29/83)
It is not illegal for anyone to ask for your Social Security Number. The SSAdministration can't restrict you from giving that information to anyone you want. The following is an extract from a publication of the SSA. Unfortunately, they sent me photo-copied individual pages, so I don't know exactly what publication it is. The Identifying numbers at the tops of the pages are "TN 4388 4-78". Section 2886 "Undesirable Uses of the SSN" Part A. "Commercial Uses in General" Several years ago, SSA became aware that some private business organizations were exploiting the social security numbering system in various kinds of commercial schemes, such as "lucky number" contests, special correspondence techniques by debt or skip-tracing organizations, the offer of plastic or metal cards in exchange for information used to sell insurance for collect debts, and the sale of plastic or metal cards for profit. Some of these enterprises make it appear to the public that SSA has approved their activities and is in some way associated with them. This is not true, of course, and every attempt has been made to discourage such activity, even though the SSN is not copyrighted under the law. Part B. "Discouraging Commercial Uses of SSN" SSA has no authority to prevent newspaper and radio "lucky number" contests, and there is no need to contact the organizations running them in an attempt to have them abandon a plan already underway unless they are using misleading advertising which implies SSA cooperation. However, if a company should contact a DO [presumably "District Office"] for approval, cooperation, or opinion on a proposed contest, it should be explained this use of the SSN is most undesirable because it encourages many applications for SSN's from persons who don't need them and many applications for multiple numbers from persons who feel several SSN's would enhance their chances of winning a prize.