Search Results for: blog social security numbers

How to Start Your Own Genealogy Blog

Ready to start your own genealogy blog? There are plenty of good reasons to do it. Genealogists need to be careful not to steal content, or break copyright laws on their blog. It is also wise to make sure that your blog doesn’t contain information that can lead to identity theft. Many people think that the best way to start creating a brand new blog is to jump online, put together a WordPress blog, and think of a catchy title. In reality, your blogging experience will be much more successful if you take the time to think about what you … Continue reading →

Genealogy Websites to Stop Listing Social Security Numbers

Some genealogy websites have decided to stop listing Social Security numbers online. Those numbers can be really useful for genealogists who are working on their family trees. Unfortunately, those numbers can also be used by thieves who want to commit identity theft. One of the resources that genealogy websites use is something called The Social Security Death Index. Insurance companies use it too, but not for the same reason that genealogists use it. Insurers who sell life insurance use the Death Master File database to determine if policyholders have passed away. Genealogists use it to locate the Social Security number … Continue reading →

Demystifying the Social Security Death Index

The Social Security Death Index (also known as the SSDI, Social Security Master Death List, or other similar names) is perhaps the most misunderstood index that is commonly used by genealogical researchers. Why is there so much confusion about the SSDI? I am not sure exactly why, but perhaps its name suggests that its contents are more inclusive than they actually are. In today’s society, nearly every American has a Social Security number. In the 1930’s, when the Social Security program came into existence, that was not the case. Many people did not get Social Security numbers because the program … Continue reading →

Social Security Numbers

It is critical to protect your social security number. Not only is it your unique identity in this country, it controls your future employment, benefits, credit and good name. Whenever you are dealing with money, this little number plays a large part in the process. The main way to protect yourself and your social security number is to keep it secret. Never use this number or any part of it to replace another number. Never carry your social security card in your wallet. Never give it out over the Internet. Don’t let your insurance id or drivers license be the … Continue reading →

What You Need to Know About the New Homeland Security-Approved Drivers Licenses

For starters the only people who will need to have new Homeland Security-approved drivers licenses are those U.S. residents who wish to use their ID to board an airplane or enter a federal building. If you were born after December 1, 1964 you have until December 1, 2014 to make the switch. Old drivers have until 2017 to get a new ID. You are not being forced to get one. They are no rules that require states to issue the new identification cards to every resident, but if you don’t get one you will not be able to use your … Continue reading →

The Marriage Blog Week in Review June 2 – June 8

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Wow, we’re wrapping up our first full week of June and has summer gotten started off with a bang? It’s the most popular month for weddings and we’ve got a lot of marriage in the news, marriage tips, and marriage advice and much more on marriage. So let’s take a look at our week in review: Saturday, June 2 My Spouse Won’t Go to the Doctor and it’s frustrating for you to cope with their illness and your own concern. So what can you do? Check out this article for some ideas and tips. Sunday, June 3 Marriage in the … Continue reading →

Marriage Laws: Minnesota, Marriage Visas & Social Security Numbers

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As you know I’ve been writing a series on Marriage Laws in the 50 United States and I’ve discovered that the laws are changing all the time, even on pieces that I wrote just a couple of weeks ago. Does that sound familiar? I just wrote about marriage license law change in Delaware and today, we’re talking about a case in Minnesota where one couple is suing two Hennepin County officials as well as the commissioner for the state’s Department of Health. So What’s Up? It seems that Shira Levenson traveled to Peru for a summer backpacking trip in 2005. … Continue reading →

Adopted Children Need New Social Security Numbers

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If you are about to adopt or have recently adopted, you may need to add one more thing to your “to do” list. After a child is adopted, his name is changed according to your wishes. Obviously, parents want their adopted child to have the family name. But you should not stop there. If it was a closed adoption, you need to also change the child’s social security number. If the number is not changed, the birth parent can find your child by tracing the number. We do not want our birth mother to find us at some future date … Continue reading →

Protecting Your Children from Identity Thieves

Identity theft doesn’t just hit adults. Children are especially vulnerable to it, since they have clean credit and financial histories and no background information or signature on file. This makes it easy for thieves to take out credit and loans in a child’s name. In most cases, the victims and their families never even realize that there is an issue until the child becomes an adult and pursues his or her own credit and financial footprint. Then it becomes obvious: years of bad debt, defaulted loans and possibly a criminal background. The web of identity-related issues can be ponderous and … Continue reading →

How to Prevent Identity Theft: Keeping Your Data to Yourself

Think identity theft can’t happen to you? It is probably only a matter of time, because identity theft is growing in leaps and bounds. New technologies and a more global way of doing business has made it easier than ever for thieves to pretend to be you. With thousands and thousands of databases that can be compromised, such as the gas station where you just swiped your car, and hundreds of people who see your card on an annual basis, such as the waiter who just served you dinner, the odds of not being a victim of identity theft is … Continue reading →