3 ms·

We have an SSN equivalent in the UK called NIN (national insurance number). I've never been asked for it as an authenticator though.

xioxox 9y ago
Banks do need it when applying for some accounts in the UK, in particular ISAs because of the tax implications. I've also had it requested by a share broker. A list of places that use it is here: https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/your-national-insurance-number https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/your-national-insuranc... Note the pages says: "To prevent identity fraud, keep your National Insurance number safe. Don’t share it with anyone who doesn’t need it." !
- benaadams 9y ago
  You need it so they can report it to HMRC who use it as an identifiter for tax contributions
LeifCarrotson 9y ago
> I've never been asked for it as an authenticator though. What are you asked for as an authenticator? Do you have a drivers' license number, or a tax identification number, or a birth certificate number, or a passport number, or some other national identification item? A consistently formatted identifier that's unique to every person in the country just seems like it would be too tempting for businesses not to use.
- DanBC 9y ago
  We're asked for a complex hodgepodge of government issued ID ("who I am") and utility bills, benefit letters, etc ("where I live"). Here's the Gov advice for online services: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/identity-proofing-and-verification-of-an-individual https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/identity-proofing... Here's how they examine ID: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recognising-fraudulent-identity-documents https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recognising-fraud...
- benaadams 9y ago
  Its illegal to use NIN by companies in the UK as an identifier or database key
chatmasta 9y ago
The NIN itself may not be an identifier, but a) you need it to open a bank account, b) it's definitely a security question for some banks, and c) you can use the NIN assignment letter from HMRC to your postal address as proof of residence.
- dfox 9y ago
  The point is that in most of the world various government assigned IDs are just that: IDs and are usually used as such and when they are used as authenticators it is only for low-risk purposes and as an additional authentication check. On the other hand in US knowledge of SSN and few other bits of information is often all that you need to impersonate someone for pretty high-risk transactions.
benaadams 9y ago
That's because its illegal to use NIN by companies in the UK as an identifier or database key

xioxox 9y ago

Banks do need it when applying for some accounts in the UK, in particular ISAs because of the tax implications. I've also had it requested by a share broker. A list of places that use it is here: https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/your-national-insurance-number https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/your-national-insuranc... Note the pages says: "To prevent identity fraud, keep your National Insurance number safe. Don’t share it with anyone who doesn’t need it." !

benaadams 9y ago
You need it so they can report it to HMRC who use it as an identifiter for tax contributions

LeifCarrotson 9y ago

> I've never been asked for it as an authenticator though. What are you asked for as an authenticator? Do you have a drivers' license number, or a tax identification number, or a birth certificate number, or a passport number, or some other national identification item? A consistently formatted identifier that's unique to every person in the country just seems like it would be too tempting for businesses not to use.

DanBC 9y ago
We're asked for a complex hodgepodge of government issued ID ("who I am") and utility bills, benefit letters, etc ("where I live"). Here's the Gov advice for online services: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/identity-proofing-and-verification-of-an-individual https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/identity-proofing... Here's how they examine ID: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recognising-fraudulent-identity-documents https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recognising-fraud...
benaadams 9y ago
Its illegal to use NIN by companies in the UK as an identifier or database key

chatmasta 9y ago

The NIN itself may not be an identifier, but a) you need it to open a bank account, b) it's definitely a security question for some banks, and c) you can use the NIN assignment letter from HMRC to your postal address as proof of residence.

dfox 9y ago
The point is that in most of the world various government assigned IDs are just that: IDs and are usually used as such and when they are used as authenticators it is only for low-risk purposes and as an additional authentication check. On the other hand in US knowledge of SSN and few other bits of information is often all that you need to impersonate someone for pretty high-risk transactions.

benaadams 9y ago

That's because its illegal to use NIN by companies in the UK as an identifier or database key