Recruiter requiring last 4 digits of SS #. Is this legit? archived
Mar 28, 2014 at 4:47am
Probably to run a credit check. A friend who has been job hunting has told me that this is done (credit checks) routinely.
I would apply for a taxpayer ID and tell them I'm in that process. SS# would be forthcoming upon hire. That's it.
mod said:
Probably to run a credit check. A friend who has been job hunting has told me that this is done (credit checks) routinely.
Especially, I would imagine, in finance/accounting positions or anywhere, really, with fiduciary responsibility.
When I was working in HR, we routinely used the last four digits of the SS# as an identifier be it for applicants or hires. This helped avoid confusion when multiple persons had the same name.
Shouldn't the recruiter tell her that it's for a credit check?
All she's been told is that they need it for identification purposes. And though this is accounting / finance my friend has never been required to provide such info in advance of an interview.
Thanks for the help.
All she's been told is that they need it for identification purposes. And though this is accounting / finance my friend has never been required to provide such info in advance of an interview.
Thanks for the help.
gonets said:
Shouldn't the recruiter tell her that it's for a credit check?
All she's been told is that they need it for identification purposes. And though this is accounting / finance my friend has never been required to provide such info in advance of an interview.
Thanks for the help.
Apologies; I missed the part about it being prior to the interview.
Generally, that sort of information is provided for background checks that occur after the job offer has been extended.
No, it has absolutely nothing to do with a credit check.
The reason they want last 4 digits (and with only the last 4 digits, no one can steal your identity, nor do a credit check) is that many corporate entities do their hiring through intermediaries and they use the 4 digits to identify you. What it means is that the hiring company is using a service provider that uses the 4 digits as an identifier.
Harmless. Play along.
The reason they want last 4 digits (and with only the last 4 digits, no one can steal your identity, nor do a credit check) is that many corporate entities do their hiring through intermediaries and they use the 4 digits to identify you. What it means is that the hiring company is using a service provider that uses the 4 digits as an identifier.
Harmless. Play along.
Except many credit places do ask for last 4, so identities can be compromised.
Do companies really do background checks AFTER offers have been extended? I guess the offer is then contingent on the background check? Weird. We always did our background checks in advance of making a final offer.
Mar 28, 2014 at 5:44am Edited
I had a credit check done when I was interviewing for my most recent job move. However, it was not done until a firm offer was made. Offer was contingent on drug screen and credit check.
I would ask for clarification on why the SS# is being requested. If a company is conducting a credit check, they are required by law to reveal what they learn (at your request).
I would ask for clarification on why the SS# is being requested. If a company is conducting a credit check, they are required by law to reveal what they learn (at your request).
Tom_Reingold said:
Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.
Look, she already got the scannable bar code tatoo behind her left ear. That should be enough.
Mar 28, 2014 at 6:19am Edited
It could be a scam, especially if your friend was cold called
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobsearchscams/a/recruiter-job-scam.htm
since it seems to be a legit recruiting company, your friend may want to call stefanini and simply verify the recruiter actually works there and if the ss request is legit
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobsearchscams/a/recruiter-job-scam.htm
since it seems to be a legit recruiting company, your friend may want to call stefanini and simply verify the recruiter actually works there and if the ss request is legit
It's a very common practice. It's combined with the candidate's name or mm/dd of the DOB to create a unique identifier in the hiring company's records.
krnl said:
To me this sounds like any 4 numbers would do.
Theoretically yes, but if the company makes an offer and the unique ID doesn't match the SSN given at hiring, it could be awkward. Or if you reapply to that company a few years later, you have to remember that number or you'll have multiple records, which is specifically what they're trying to avoid. I've heard plenty of stories of candidates being removed from consideration because they didn't play along with the initial screening requirements.
The only thing awkward would be the recruiter telling the company that the best candidate is caught up with privacy issues and should be offered the position before asking them to compromise their personal data.
Apparently the company uses the approach described by kthnry, because the recruiter called back to ask for the month and day of her birth. She refused. Recruiter said she couldn't move forward, but liked her resume so much that she wants to pursue other opportunities. So, apparently it's the company.
Screw these companies. Where do they get off expecting people to take such risks with their personal information just for a chance to talk to them about a job?
Screw these companies. Where do they get off expecting people to take such risks with their personal information just for a chance to talk to them about a job?
In my field, where unemployment is high and good candidates are plentiful, making a fuss over the potential risk of providing the last 4 of your SSN is going to prevent your submission. Maybe the OP's friend is in a financial/professional position to take a stand on privacy principles.
Dave: This is unlikely to be a privacy issue. Last four digits of the social security number do not in and of themselves provide sufficient information for identity theft or background investigation. In the age of computerized records, HR data bases need a field of reference for storing/retrieving/linking personnel records; and the last four digits of the social security number meet this requirement while taking up minimal space in the data base.
Edited to add: Data base used by the company in question may have last four digits of the social security number and mm/dd of birth as required fields and may be unable to process an application if this information is not provided.
Edited to add: Data base used by the company in question may have last four digits of the social security number and mm/dd of birth as required fields and may be unable to process an application if this information is not provided.
There are many, many more applicants than there are jobs - so employers can do anything they please. That's driven salaries down and had a range of other unfortunate effects. If we had a robust union movement, i.e., if workers had a place at the table to assist in making decisions about these and other issues key to the economy, things might not be like this. flame on!gonets said:
Apparently the company uses the approach described by kthnry, because the recruiter called back to ask for the month and day of her birth. She refused. Recruiter said she couldn't move forward, but liked her resume so much that she wants to pursue other opportunities. So, apparently it's the company.
Screw these companies. Where do they get off expecting people to take such risks with their personal information just for a chance to talk to them about a job?
I posted before I saw your post, gonets. Sorry it didn't work out for your friend.
FWIW, the big pharma companies seem to use this system a lot.
I always figured the odds of anything bad happening with just the last four digits was pretty remote.
FWIW, the big pharma companies seem to use this system a lot.
I always figured the odds of anything bad happening with just the last four digits was pretty remote.
I'd be hesitant to offer up anything close to my SS. number to an unknown entity. However, if it's about finding employment, you really have to make that decision yourself.
I wonder what the Social Security Administration thinks of this type of practice. I'm pretty sure that they have pretty strict regulations regarding appropriate situations when companies may require the full social security number, but I'm not sure about just the last four digits.
sac said:
I wonder what the Social Security Administration thinks of this type of practice. I'm pretty sure that they have pretty strict regulations regarding appropriate situations when companies may require the full social security number, but I'm not sure about just the last four digits.
If they ever cared, they don't care any more.
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A friend of mine who's been in consulting for quite some time (finance/accounting), has been contacted by a recruiter from Stefanani (http://stefanini.com/) based in Michigan about a job in Jersey.
Recruiter spent quite a bit of time on phone with her yesterday offering very helpful advice on improving resume. She sent recruiter resume last night and was contacted first thing this morning.
Recruiter said she'd like to submit her resume but said she needs the last 4 digits of her Social Security # in order to proceed. This is the first time my friend has encountered such a requirement. Is this legit?
The fact that the recruiter spent a great deal of time offering very helpful advice lends credibility, but still it's the SS# that's scary.
On a related note, if anyone knows of a good opportunity for a candidate who recently passed all 4 CPA exams and is just waiting on the paperwork to get fully certified let me know. She's open to temp and perm positions. Jersey if it's 30 minute drive or less or NYC.
Thanks