Legitimate job recruiters and human resource professionals will never ask for your Social Security Number (SSN), banking details, or copies of your identity documents during initial phone screenings, casual chats, or early application stages. An SSN is strictly required only after a formal job offer has been extended and accepted, specifically for official tax reporting and background screening paperwork (such as Form W-4 and I-9 verification). If a recruiter demands your SSN prematurely, it is a glaring red flag signaling an employment identity theft scam.