Scams to steal your personal information continue to be problematic - that’s why it remains critical to safeguard important personal documents like your Social Security card.

Jack Myers with Social Security reminds us that most of the time, you will not need to show your card to anybody.  Your Social Security card is not an identity document. 

In many situations, you only need to know your Social Security number (SSN). If you are going to have a business need for your Social Security card, Myers points out, you’ll typically know about that in advance, and you can take your card that day.  

Remember to take your Social Security card out of your wallet or purse, though, and put it back in its safe spot afterwards, and keeping it at home reduces the risk of loss or theft and helps you keep your information safe. 

To learn more about fraud and identity theft, please visit www.ssa.gov/fraud. If you’d like to learn about Social Security-related scams, visit www.ssa.gov/scams.