Better Business Bureau Warns of Identity Theft on Facebook

By MIchelle Wirth

Atlanta, GA – The Better Business Bureau is asking local residents to be more careful about placing their age, birthday or other information on Facebook. They warn that users of the popular social networking site could become victims of identity theft.

The Metro Atlanta Better Business Bureau says identity thieves can guess the social security numbers of Facebook users with very little information. Fred Elsberry is president and CEO of the organization.

"The first three digits of your social security number is the zip code of where you live, or a code that says this is your hometown, so if you put your hometown in there they're going to be able to identify the first three digits."

Elsberry says identity thieves can also guess the next two digits, because they are determined by where you applied for your social security number. He says the last four digits are supposed to be random, but they tend to be in sequential order. Elsberry says those born after 1989 are especially at risk.

"The pattern is much more predictable there."

Elsberry says the good news is starting this year social security numbers will be more random. But he says if you already have one, your only option is to protect the one you've been given.