Run a small business? Want to know how to 
recognize a valid Social Security card? You can’t.
There are over 50 versions of the Social Security card, and they are all valid. The number printed on them is the important thing. The best way to verify a name and Social Security number is to use the free Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS). Once you have registered for Business Services Online at www.socialsecurity.gov/bso, you can start using SSNVS. SSNVS allows you to quickly verify whether a person’s name and number match Social Security’s records.
