Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2005

Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2005 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) specify restrictions on the sale and display to the general public of Social Security account numbers (SSNs) (or any derivatives) by Federal, State, and local governments and bankruptcy case trustees; (2) prohibit the display of SSNs (or any derivatives) on checks issued for payment by such governments; (3) prohibit the Federal, State, or local government display of SSNs (or any derivatives) on employee identification cards or tags (IDs); (4) prohibit access to the SSNs of other individuals by prisoners employed by Federal, State, or local governments; and (5) prohibit the selling, purchasing, or displaying of SSNs (with certain exceptions), or the obtaining or use of any individual's SSN to locate or identify such individual with the intent to physically injure or harm such individual or to use the individual's ID for any illegal purpose by any person.

Subjects to the Fair Credit Reporting Act information regarding a consumer's SSN (and any derivative) (credit header information). Provides that any person who refuses to do business with an individual for refusing to disclose his or her SSN shall be considered to have committed an unfair or deceptive act or practice.

Establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act, and enhanced penalties in cases of terrorism, drug trafficking, crimes of violence, or prior offenses.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov