My question exactly. Other similar posts overwhelmingly answer 'do NOT give out that number' until you are hired. Yet the majority of firms ask for it from the get-go nowadays. I think it should be illegal to seek your number. Companies can say 'we only use it for ....' but apparently they can verify when and where you worked, your wage, etc. There is a lot of 'fudging' going on out there but companies seem to hold all the card in my opinion.HR will always say they are doing everything by the book but of course they can do whatever they want to.