Social Security scrambled it in both directions and required anyone asking to enter five items of information: full name, Social Security number, date of birth, place of birth and mother's maiden name.

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Notes included details of the singer's date and place of birth and a biography of her musical career, including the albums she has released.

BBC: Joss Stone accused 'wrote diary with death notes'

Or one that asked for your date of birth in one place and your age in another, and then required you to sign your name over and over again (and also print it out each time)?

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And once a few seemingly dry facts have been established - a date and place of birth, for instance - the web can help bring the past to life.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Magazine | 'My ancestors got hitched in this church'

When you complete your profile or account information for a social networking site, they ask for personal information such as your date of birth, address, phone number and even your hometown or place of birth.

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