Re: Bare Social Social Security Numbers

[Gary Golomb <coach () GWU EDU>]

I hate making posts like this, but I just came across this over the
weekend and it's fascinating... From wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_security_number

SSNs invalidated by use in advertising

SSNs used in advertising have rendered those numbers invalid. One famous
instance of this occurred in 1938 when the E. H. Ferree Company in
Lockport, New York decided to promote its product by showing how a
Social Security card would fit into its wallets. A sample card, used for
display purposes, was placed in each wallet, which was sold by Woolworth
and other department stores across the country. The wallet
manufacturer's vice president thought it would be clever to use the
actual SSN of his secretary, Hilda Whitcher.

Even though the card was printed in red (the real card is printed in
blue), was half the size of the real card, and had "Specimen" printed
across the front, many people utilized the SSN. Over time the number
that appeared (078-05-1120) was claimed by over 40,000 people as their
own. The SSA initiated an advertising campaign stating that it was
incorrect to use the number. (Hilda Whitcher was issued a new SSN.)
However, the number was found to be in use by 12 individuals as late as
1977.



----- Original Message -----
From: "H. Morrow Long" <morrow.long () YALE EDU>
Date: Monday, March 27, 2006 12:34 pm
Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Bare Social Social Security Numbers
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU

> On Mar 27, 2006, at 11:49 AM, scott hollatz wrote:
> > Another question which may answer yours:  Whose SSN is 123-45-
> 6789 ?
>
> According to a Google search that SSN # most likely belongs to a 
> John  
> Doe,
> (whose last known place of residence appears to be Anytown USA)
> although there is a close runner-up called "First Last" (aka "First 
>
> MI Last").
>
> There were several other names apparently associated with that SSN
> so perhaps they have run out of numbers and are beginning to recycle
> them :-?  There is (of course) John Smith and I particularly like 
> the  
> Clark Kent.
>
> I'd caution against googling your own SSN though (who knows who Google
> provides these searches to and it might be useful info to them in  
> combination
> with your IP address).
>
> Morrow
>
> [PDF] SAMPLE SUMMER RESUME ALFRED PAUL LEE SSN: 123-45-6789 123  
> Maple ...
>
> File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
> SSN: 123-45-6789. 123 Maple Rock Lane. Centreville, VA 20121. Home  
> Telephone No.: 123 - 456 – 7890. Work Telephone No.: 123 - 987 –  
> 6543 ...
> www.dtra.mil/employment_opp/ civilian/docs/sample_resume.pdf -  
> Similar pages
> [PDF] NAME: Last, First, Middle SSN: 123-45-6789 USAREC Form 1202 ...
>
> File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
> SSN: 123-45-6789. 3. The Army will not guarantee or enforce this  
> priority ... SSN: 123-45-6789. d. Retain contact with the Partner 
> POC  
> during enlistment ...
> www.armypays.com/SOU.pdf - Similar pages
> Section
>
> John A. Doe (123-45-6789) or Mrs. Mary C. Doe or Miss Mary Ann Doe 
> or  
> the ... Limited to husband and wife: Charles H. Brown (123-45-6789) 
>
> and Ann R. Brown ...
> a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/08aug20051500/  
> edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/julqtr/31cfr306.11.htm - 13k - 
> Cached  
> - Similar pages
> Section
>
> of the Estate of George N. Brown 123-45-6789, a minor (or an  
> incompetent, ... Frank M. Redd 123-45-6789, an incompetent for whom 
>
> Eric A. Redd has been ...
> a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/08aug20051500/  
> edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/julqtr/31cfr360.6.htm - 7k - Cached 
> -  
> Similar pages
> Friday Fishwrap » Blog Archive » 123-45-6789
>
> 123-45-6789. or “a funny thing happened on the way to…” ... 3  
> Responses to “123-45-6789”. Solonor Says: May 25th, 2004 at 10:56 
> am ...
> fridayfishwrap.com/?p=787 - 17k - Cached - Similar pages
> Organization Browser
>
> Smith, John, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE III, 123-45-6789. Holly, 
> Buddy,  
> SENIOR SYSTEMS CONSULTANT ... Spector, Phil, SR DIR CORP FINAN INFO 
>
> SVCS, 123-45-6789 ...
> www.invantix.com/xorg/showOrgTree.html - 19k - Cached - Similar pages
> [PDF] Doe, Jane 01 15 48 123 45 6789 USDA MCE Minnesota 12-05-0323  
> 01-31 ...
>
> File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
> 01 15 48 123 45 6789. USDA. MCE. Minnesota. 12-05-0323. 01-31-03.  
> Term of Schedule A $35450 pa. Eligible to Continue ...
> www.mckimmon.ncsu.edu/uploads/ csrees/Example%201%20SF%202806%20-% 
> 20MN.pdf - Similar pages
> Bureau of the Public Debt : Registration Options in Legacy ...
>
> ELIZABETH BLACK AND JANE BROWN WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP,  
> 123-45-6789 SSN ... WILLIAM SMITH CONSERVATOR OF THE ESTATE OF PAUL 
> T  
> JONES, 123-45-6789 SSN ...
> www.publicdebt.treas.gov/sec/secregop.htm - 16k - Cached - Similar 
> pagesTHIS IS A SAMPLE OF A BASIC PEOPLE SEARCH
>
> Shawn R Smith DOB: Oct 15, 1929 SSN 123-45-6789 issued in West  
> Virginia between 1920 and 1949 Possible Other Social Security 
> Numbers  
> Associated with Subject ...
> www.locatepeople.com/sample1.shtml - 6k - Cached - Similar pages
> [PDF] CLARK KENT SS: 123-45-6789 E: DAILEY PLANET 311 JONATHAN LANE 
>
> 987 ...
>
> File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
> SS: 123-45-6789. E: DAILEY PLANET. 311 JONATHAN LANE 987-65-4321.  
> RPTD: 1-99 I. QUEENS, NY 10012-1534. RPTD: 6-89 TO 2-02 U 14X DOB:  
> 01/01/1950 ...
> www.employeescreen.com/web/pdfs/crguide.pdf - Similar pages
> Try your search again on Google Book Search