<p>I’m not the most careful guy, but I always take special care with these documents. I went to a job interview a month ago and they told me to bring an original copy. I did, and while I’m about 90% sure I put it back in my bookbag and went home, a month later, I did a thorough search of my house and it wasn’t there. This ****ing sucks. I’m only 18 but I’m so paranoid now about someone potentially using it. My parents advised me to get a duplicate card, but what about the risk of identity theft w/ the first card? Damn. What else should I do?</p>
<p>Just get a second card. You can keep looking for the old one either way.</p>
<p>I could not locate mine a few years ago when I had a new job. i felt dumb. I went and sat at the SS office for several hours and left feeling pretty darn smart. People ahead of me in line came in with questions like “Here is my son. Can you give him a SS card? See? I can prove he’s my son, he looks just like me.” No joke. An elderly man’s number was called, he went to the window and lined up a row of pill bottles and asked what prescription program he should enroll in. The people that worked there were very kind and patient, which is why I was there for hours and hours.</p>
<p>All you can do, security-wise, is keep a close eye on your credit report and check your SS statement every year. You could enroll in one of the ID theft protection programs I hear advertised as well. Get a duplicate and keep track of it. good luck</p>
<p>You can be an idiot nine more times. The Social Security people will replace your card ten times during your lifetime.</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=251]Answer[/url”>http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=251]Answer[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Put a fraud alert on your credit report (free)</p>
<p>That way, if anyone finds the card and attempts to use your SSN during the next 3 months, it will send up red flags.</p>