What Can Someone Do With My Date of Birth?
Uncover the various ways your date of birth can be leveraged, potentially affecting your identity, accounts, and financial well-being.
A date of birth (DOB) is a fundamental piece of personal identifying information, frequently requested for official purposes like age verification or confirming identity for financial and medical services. While providing a date of birth might seem harmless, its widespread use makes it a valuable data point. Misuse of this detail, especially when combined with other personal information, can lead to significant consequences.
Identity Verification and Account Access
A date of birth is routinely employed for legitimate identity verification processes. It helps confirm age for accessing restricted products or services, such as alcohol or tobacco, and is often a component in background checks for employment or housing applications. Utility companies, healthcare providers, and other service entities commonly use a date of birth to confirm an individual’s identity when establishing or accessing accounts.
However, malicious actors can exploit the date of birth to bypass security measures and gain unauthorized access to existing accounts. Many online platforms and services, including email, social media, and online shopping sites, may use a date of birth as a common security question answer or as a key piece of information for password resets. If a fraudster possesses this detail, they can potentially answer security questions or initiate password resets, thereby taking over an individual’s accounts. This unauthorized access extends to financial portals if the date of birth is combined with other easily obtainable information, allowing criminals to view or manipulate sensitive personal and financial data. The issue arises because some systems still rely on this information for verification, making it a vulnerability when exposed.
Financial and Credit Related Fraud
When a date of birth is combined with other personal details, such as a name or address, it is key in committing various types of financial and credit fraud. This information can be leveraged to open new lines of credit, including credit cards or loans, under false pretenses. Fraudsters might also use this data to open new bank accounts, enabling them to conduct illicit transactions or receive fraudulent funds.
Beyond establishing new accounts, a compromised date of birth can facilitate the filing of fraudulent tax returns, where criminals claim refunds in someone else’s name. It can also be used to apply for government benefits, such as unemployment or Social Security, diverting legitimate payments to the fraudster. While a date of birth alone is rarely sufficient, it serves as a foundational piece of data that streamlines fraudulent activities.
Enabling Targeted Scams and Social Engineering
Knowing someone’s date of birth can be a powerful tool for social engineering attacks and targeted scams. Criminals use this information to personalize communications, making phishing emails, vishing calls, or smishing texts appear more legitimate. For instance, a scam might involve a fake “birthday gift” offer or a “security alert” with age-related details, designed to trick the recipient into revealing sensitive information or clicking malicious links.
A date of birth also serves as key for gathering additional data about an individual. Fraudsters can use it to search public records or find associated social media profiles, building a more complete picture of their target. This comprehensive identity allows them to craft more sophisticated schemes, manipulating individuals into disclosing financial information or account credentials. The goal is to leverage the familiar detail of a birthday to establish trust, overcome skepticism, and facilitate exploitation.