HN Explorer

Ask HN: Recruiters asking for “last 4 digits of SSN”?

3 points by digler999 ↗ HN
I applied for a few developer positions on dice recently, and twice now recruiters who haven't even spoken to me have asked me for the last 4 digits of my SSN.

Why would they legitimately need this information ? What concerns me is even if they have a legitimate use for it, the last 4 can be used to guess the entire SSN. The first 3 are unique to your birthplace, so that means if you know the last 4, someone only needs to correctly guess your place of birth and try 100 times until they guess the full SSN.

Obviously I don't give them the last 4, or I give them phony numbers. But I just wanted to hear what others say about it. I contacted dice about this a few years back, but they didn't seem to share the same concern that the info could be used for identity theft.

Here's what one recruiter wanted:

Candidate Detail Full Name (As per SSN): Contact Number: DOB (MM/DD/YY): Email id: Linkedin id: Preferred location: Notice Period: Skype id: SSN (Last 4 digit): Currently working(Y/N): Total US Exp.:

12 comments

[ 3.9 ms ] story [ 42.2 ms ] thread
JSeymourATL
Why would they legitimately need this information?

It's become a common practice especially among large, buraucratic employers. The Last 4 Digits are simply a unique identifier, used for quick (soft) reference in employment eligibility.

You're just a number to machine at this point. HR Flunkies & Bozo Recruiters don't care if it turns you off or raises red flags about your security.

Here's an excellent take on this by Nick Corcodillos >http://www.asktheheadhunter.com/7696/wanted-hr-exec-with-the...

dragonwriter
> The Last 4 Digits are simply a unique identifier

No, they aren't. As is kind of obvious, given the number of combinations of four digits there are, and the size of the universe of people identified with SSNs.

JSeymourATL
More on this explanation from Corcodilos: The reality is, some software designer included a SSN field in the employer’s database, and the HR department bought the software without questioning the design and intent. Because HR relies on such software to process you, HR doesn’t know what to do if you decline to provide data the software “requires.” Go figure. Suppose the software included a credit card field instead — that’s unique to you, too, right? But no one would expect you to provide it because the employer doesn’t need it.

I feel your pain. Some employers will boot you out of the hiring process if you don’t give them your SSN (and your salary history) — just like a phone or cable company will refuse to sell you service without it. I wish someone would file a lawsuit. > http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/ask-the-headhunter-...

thefastlane
no, a recruiter never "legitimately needs" this information.

edit:

- an agency recruiter never needs it. period.

- an internal recruiter, if the firm's HR dept is set up such that the recruiter that first contacted you is also in charge of onboarding you post-offer, then ok.

jonathankoren
I've never seen this. This is highly suspicious. Also DOB is an illegal question in the United States.
Atlas
If they are using that information for a background check, they would have to inform you by law. I could see them using it for identity verification, but they should be much more transparent about that.
digler999
I agree, and if it were background, I would expect them to need the full SSN.
Atlas
You can definitely do it with only the last four digits.
thefastlane
a recruiter shouldn't ever need any sort of 'identity verification'.

even if a recruiter is 'being transparent', there's no reason to. you should stay away from anyone saying they need to do this.

background checks, etc. are HR things that happen between when job offer is accepted and your first day of work starts.

dudul
Never happened to me, and I would frankly laugh at their face. Same with date of birth and pretty much everything from your list. The only thing they need: my name and a way to reach me. Later in the process, if the company needs to run a background check sure I'll provide more details.
thefastlane
i would assume this is a scam. the only time you need to provide ssn is when you are starting a new job -- you have already been hired -- and HR needs to photocopy your social security card. that's it. no other time. ever. (edit: ok, also other HR things like maybe when choosing your health insurance plan, etc)

also you are under no compulsion to provide a recruiter (agency or internal) any information you don't want to. this includes prior salary, GPA, etc, etc.

liquidcool
I do recruiting (3rd party). This sounds like total shenanigans. I would be actively afraid to ask for your SSN and definitely DOB - they should be avoiding asking your age out of fear of discrimination lawsuits. What's reasonable on a call:

- name (they don't need your middle)

- email, phone, Skype (if they do video tech interviews), experience

- asking if you are legally allowed to work in the US without sponsorship. For a defense job, if you are a citizen. You don't want to waste your time if you're not.

Depending on the job, before your on-site interview a major corp. might ask for your full name, DOB, felony convictions (not arrests), etc. for a background check, but I don't think they'd need your SSN until you're there for employee orientation (tax purposes, etc.).