OMG, I get asked that so often for "verification" that I just think I'm going to get those last four digits tattooed on my forehead.
BTW, SS has this arcane system of "numbering" that I know has something to do with your parent's numbers, your place of birth, and etc. I think the last four digits are what actually identify you. I'mma gonna check.
Social Security Numbers Structure
Hmm... mostly got it correct. I always thought they wanted the "last 4 numbers" for security reasons, it's actually those that you want to keep private.
Okay, so I'll get em tattooed on my .....
Seriously though, I give that number without hesitation, I've been trained into it by various "institutions." I'm not sure it means that much anymore. I'd actually rather give out that info than say, my fingerprints and etc.
I bet I have been fingerprinted more than many offenders. When you work with kids and whatnot, you get fingerprinted non-stop 24-7, not to mention when I naturalized.
Back in the day (don't know if it's still true) they were giving everyone blood tests to enter on green cards.... It's how my dad found out he contracted hep C during surgery to correct his repeated lung collapses, back in the late 70's, they pumped him full of a bunch of quarts (he almost died) and they weren't testing blood back then. I was fairly young, but I don't remember a major freakout on his end.... That had to have been an unpleasant "crossing" of the pond, I think.
Anna