everybody asks for your SS# now. some have been doing it for years. i don't give mine out. when i got my cellphone the guy asked for my last 4 digits and i gave them to him before i realized it! hate that!! i've emailed the Whitehouse about this but got no real response back.
ID thieves are out there and i'm not giving my SS # out! period!! maybe to the hospital or employer or IRS. no one else.