Identity thieves want your Social Security number more than almost any other piece of personal information. With it, they can open credit cards in your name, file fraudulent tax returns, get jobs using your identity, and access government benefits you're entitled to.
There's more you can do to protect your SSN beyond keeping it private. You can actually lock your Social Security number through the Social Security Administration, which prevents anyone from using it for employment verification or accessing certain government services in your name.
