Conducting a Social Security Number Trace

The first step in most background investigations is a Social Security Number Trace. A social security trace is a report that will return all current and reported addresses for the last 7 to 10 years on a specific individual based on his or her social security number. It is imperative to verity the information provided by a candidate concerning his or her identity and where he or she has lived. This is the foundation of a solid background investigation. By tracing the SSN history over seven years, it is much more difficult for a candidate to hide their identity and possible criminal history. The SSN trace provides you the opportunity to cross check name and previous residence history as provided in the job application for possible inconsistencies. Additionally, the SSN trace validates the choice of which jurisdiction(s) should be searched for criminal records. Lastly, the SSN trace will uncover known aliases—other names the applicant may have gone by--another key part of a comprehensive background check.

This is not a check of the Social Security Administration’s records. It is a check of credit bureau databases by Social Security number. The verification will tell you where and when the Social Security number was issued and what name or names are associated with the use of the number. This is particularly useful when the applicant is originally from another part of the country.

Basically they are simply running the subject’s Social Security number through the credit bureaus and receiving back what is called "header files’ from his/her credit report. A credit report header file contains only the section of the credit report that includes the full name, address and other information such as date of birth and possibly their current employment. Up until the past few years, header files were considered public records under the Fair Credit Reporting Act but recently their use has been restricted to what is called "permissible purposes."

Permissible purposes include:

• Business/investment transactions
• Insurance
• Employment

Examples of using the SSN Trace: Joe Jackson learned the SSN of his father years ago but had no idea how to use this number to find his father. Joe learns of the SSN Trace and runs it and quickly determines that his father’s SSN was used in a death claim filed with the SSA in 1994 for benefits. Joe just learned that his father is in fact deceased.

You are hiring an individual and want to verify his SSN and obtain some additional information on your subject. You run the SSN Trace and quickly determine the SSN the new hire provided you was incorrect and was just issued in 1997. You decide not to hire the subject fearing he has something to hide. You also just saved yourself a headache with your taxes.

Joe Jackson is looking for an old girl friend he used to live with. He found her SSN on an old pay stub lying around in some boxes. Joe runs the SSN Trace. Joe quickly learns of his friend’s new address based on her SSN.