Medicare, Defense Cards Boon to ID Theft

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UPI | September 19, 2005

WASHINGTON - While the U.S. Federal Trade Commission tries to combat identify theft, several federal agencies continue to use Social Security numbers.

Medicare, Medicaid and the Defense Department all use Social Security numbers.

"We tell people all the time that they shouldn't carry their Social Security number in their wallet," said Susanna Montezemolo, a policy analyst with Consumers Union in Washington. "Their response is, 'Well, it's on my Medicare card.'"

An estimated 8 million military men and women and their families, must use cards with Social Security numbers to gain access to computers at work or base commissaries, reported the Los Angeles Times Saturday.

"The requirement that military personnel use the Social Security number for practically everything is nothing short of criminal," said Beth Givens, executive director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. "I got an e-mail from one military member who said he was required to stencil his name and Social Security number on his duffel bag. It's really outrageous."

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