What amazes me is - Why the social security number was ever used as an identity number in the first place. This number should simply be used to trace your account with the social security department when you retire. The practice by institutions to use the last four digits of your social security as some sort of de facto secret number is not only foolish but laughable that no one has a problem with it. I should be able to freely float my social security number and not expect to have my identity stolen.