Why is it considered dangerous to give your name out online?

[Fred]

A name and date of birth can be enough to allow someone to gain access to official records like social security numbers. The problem is mostly not just any detail you give out, but the risk you give away more details as well. Particularly with social networking sites, you may mention something locally which gives a clue to others. Later you might give a bit more away. Over time people may build a list of your location, where you were born, and obviously with an age they know the year of birth. Often people mention pet's names, friend's names, details of family members, cars you drive or originally drove and similar. first risk is they might gain enough information to guess a password as people often use combinations of certain of the above information to remember passwords. Access to any site you go to can give them your account details INCLUDING maybe a postal code, a recovery phone number, security questions and answers, full date of birth, and a lot more. so whatever they get from you it is easy to get more. A birth certificate search will possibly also find you if they have enough information. Theft of identity follows. Running up credit in your name, committing fraud using your name. So ANYTHING you give them is a risk, but the age would limit their search parameters required massively.