Check out <http://www.identitytheft.org/protect.htm> In 1992-93, I was a long-haul trucker, running team, with my husband. In 1992, the Federal Commercial Driver's License (CDL) regulations went into effect. To prevent truckers from carrying licenses from 15 or more states, we were licensed by our state, with only ONE license number: You guessed it--our federally-mandated licenses bore the only number unique to each of us: our Social Security Number. I never thought much about it, until Christmas of '93, when my purse was stolen in a truck stop restroom (my fault--I set it on top of the TP holder in the stall) and since I was in a hurry to get back on the road, and there was a waiting line outside the stall, I neglected to grab it on exit. Less than 5 minutes later, I relized it wasn't with me, and went back into the restroom to check. No luck--it was gone, along with my CDL, and my phone and credit cards. I cancelled the cards, stopped the checking account, and had to get a new CDL. Fortunately, the thief was interested only in the $40 cash I had in the wallet, and not in assuming my identity. But if that thief had been a bit more creative, she could have obtained anything she wanted, including my birth certificate, CDL, and credit history, simply by utilizing my SSN. Since then, Arkansas has stopped using SSN's as CDL numbers. I was very lucky, but was dismayed to learn, two months ago, that WV DMV still demands a person's SSN. I refused to allow it to be placed on my license, but most people do not even question, much less, understand, what a clear and present danger exists, in divulging their SSN's in such a public forum. This is not paranoia, folks--once your SSN goes into ANY computer, you lose control over who has access to your life. The clerk who enters it, cannot vouch for the integrity of others who have access to the system. And computer systems are linked, so you have no idea where that info is going. All it takes, to get a SS card in your name, is the info on your birth certificate. And if your full name and birthdate are out here, on the web, in published genealogy files, your life is fair game for the identity thief. Charles & Carolyn Miller wrote: > > I have to agree with Linda and Peg on this one, also. Carolyn >