Your bank, landlord, and even the government will ask you to send them your Social Security number via fax. Such a vital piece of information should be shared securely or not at all – unless you want to fall prey to identity theft. So, is it safe to fax your SSN?

Faxing a Social Security number is safe under certain circumstances. However, reducing the number of times someone shares their SSN is the best way to prevent identity theft and fraud. Other ways of sending an SSN, such as emailing it, are extremely insecure and should be avoided.

Having your Social Security number fall into the wrong hands is a recipe for disaster. For that reason, finding a secure way of sending it is key. At the same time, you should learn about the latest Social Security scams to remain safe from trouble.

Should You Fax Your SSN?

That depends! Faxing your SSN to the Social Security Administration is probably safe, though you can’t say the same about faxing your SSN to your landlord or bank. Fax is an unencrypted, relatively unsafe way of sending information, considering its security measures haven’t been updated in decades.

The best way to approach this issue is to share your Social Security number as little as possible. Many businesses and organizations will ask for your SSN, although most don’t require it – and almost none of them have a legal reason to do so.

Using your driver’s license or passport as an ID is good enough for most places. If you’re sending a picture of either, make sure you watermark it (e.g., “Bank Internal Use Only”).

Are Fax Machines Secure?

Fax machines are not as secure as most people think. It’s an unencrypted and traceable way of sending information, though that doesn’t mean it’s as insecure as sending an email at a coffee shop.

Most areas of governments and a diverse number of important organizations (e.g., Medicare) use fax because of inertia (it’s been this way forever) and because using other alternatives is not as secure as faxing.

However, fax being more secure than email doesn’t mean you can’t hack a fax machine – or can’t use it to compromise a network.

What’s the Safest Way To Send Confidential Information?

The best way to send personal information is to do so in person, leaving nothing in writing. Of course, that’s almost impossible or way too inconvenient for most people. For that reason, encrypted messages are the second-best, most popular way to send confidential information.

Fax machines are not as secure as most think. In fact, the only ones claiming faxing is secure are fax companies! It’s an outdated way of doing things, and there are better, more secure message services today.

Remember, the best thing you can do is never send confidential information over the internet. However, using encrypted emails is one of the safest ways to do so – as long as both ends (sender and recipient) use encryption and other security measures.

What Can Someone Do With Your SSN?

Scammers want your Social Security number to perform identity theft. A threat actor with enough personal information can take loans, order services, and open bank accounts without your consent.

Nearly a million and a half Americans fall prey to identity theft yearly. Unfortunately, scammers always find new ways to steal personal information and do damage to innocent people.

For example, a threat actor with your SSN can take thousands of dollars in debt, leaving you to pay for it.

Someone could use your SSN to steal from the government. They’ll file fake income tax returns, leaving you to deal with the government later on.

How To Protect Your SSN

• Don’t give it away unless necessary. The best way to avoid any breaches is to keep your information in as few places as possible. For that reason, sending your SSN to anyone who asks for it is a terrible cybersecurity approach. Always ask for other IDs you can use.
• Ask for precautions before sending it. Companies shouldn’t store your SSN unless it’s necessary – and they should take extreme precautions to avoid a breach if they do so. Don’t send your SSN to those not willing to protect it.
• Remember your SSN isn’t a password. An unusual way of losing your SSN is to use it as your password. A lot of people believe this unique set of numbers is the perfect secret code – until it gets leaked in a data breach. Scammers know how to recognize an SSN (because it follows a pattern), and they’ll definitely use it if they find it in a data breach.

Common Social Security Scams

• Illegal Activity Scam. The most common Social Security scam comes with a threatening tone and very grave accusations. Someone who pretends to be a part of the Social Security Administration will demand your information (or money) to deal with a crime you committed. Of course, nothing of the sort is true, and the SSA will only call you if you request it.
• Free Services Scam. Another common scam includes a friendly tone instead of threats and accusations. In this scenario, a scammer will try to convince you they’re giving away services, such as a new Social Security card, for free. Of course, they’ll need your SSN to make that happen, and that’s the scam.
• Phishing Scams. Although most Social Security scams happen over the phone, hackers also use email and fake websites to get your SSN. They imitate SSA’s style (e.g., using the same headers, fonts, and more) to convince you to share information. You should never divulge your SSN this way.

Remember, the SSA will never ask you for personal information, no matter how grave the issue is when they contact you over the phone or email.

How To Avoid Social Security Scams

Sharing your Social Security number with as few people as possible is the best way to protect yourself. At the same time, checking and double-checking who needs this information is key, so you can assess who to send it to.

Social Security scams follow the same pattern as most phishing or vishing attempts: someone will instill a sense of urgency to force your hand (e.g., threaten you with jail time unless you divulge your Social Security number). Staying alert is the best way to avoid any scams.

Simply put, share your SSN with as few people as possible. When someone asks you for it, do your best to provide alternative ways of identification (such as a driver’s license) instead of something as vital as your Social Security number.

Of course, if you must share it, do so in secure ways.

Conclusion

Sending your SSN over fax is not secure as most think, though it’s far from the worst way of sharing personal information. However, doing an effort and sending your Social Security number to as few people as possible will help you protect yourself from scams.