When it comes to the latest identity theft scam, the number in question is your Social Security number. Once they have that, the thievery begins.
The latest fraud is simple: Crooks call you up and ask you to "verify" your Social Security number. A lot of swindles operate that way, but here's their script, according to the AARP Fraud Network:
-- A scammer calls from a "323" area code, posing as a Social Security Administration (SSA) employee.
-- In some instances, the scammer tells the victim he or she is "due a cost-of-living adjustment increase in their Social Security benefit."