Why do I always seem to be pre-selected for extra screening when I travel?

Travelers who are pre-selected for additional screening will not be able to check-in online from home or at the curb and will have a “SSSS” (Secondary Security Screening Selectee) on the boarding pass. There are several ways to be selected. Most commonly this is entirely random. Even Global Entry and Pre-Check members can be randomly selected. If this truly happens every single time you travel that suggests you may have the same name as someone on a watch list and should probably apply for a Redress Number (https://www.dhs.gov/redress-control-numbers). After an investigation you will be cleared and removed from a permanent place on the SSSS list.