Sending Social Security Number Through Email

Apply For A New Ssn As A Last Resort

If you believe youve done everything you can and someone is still using your SSN, you may need to request a new number from the SSA. If you decide to apply for a new number, you will need to prove your identity, age, and U.S. citizenship or immigration status. You will also need to provide evidence that someone is using your old number. The SSA booklet Your Social Security Number and Card explains the application process.

Bear in mind that a new SSN may not solve all your problems. Think about all the government agencies, banks, credit reporting companies, and others that already have and use your old number.

Once you receive a new SSN, do not use your old number again. Make sure your new number is reported to all agencies that will need it and that those agencies know you no longer use your old number.

Things You Should Never Text Or Email

Most of us in our “instant gratification isn’t enough” society assume that the potential fallout from transmitting sensitive information via text, fax or email is outweighed by the convenience of getting something where it needs to be fast. After all, becoming the victim of an identity-related crime isn’t the end of the world, right?

Define “End of the World”

While it’s not technically the end of the world, you may find yourself wishing for it. Dealing with the aftermath of an identity-related crime can feel like a close second to getting eaten slowly by a half-hearted shark–especially if you believe that you have done everything right.

There is nothing quite like that maddening feeling you get while reading a notice from a collection agency informing you that you owe money for goods or services that you never purchased.

The next order of business is where people tend to really lose it: Getting a credit report riddled with identity theft-related errors. If you are lucky, whoever used your information to make the purchases that eventually hit your mailbox in the form of a collection notice only perpetrated that one incursion on your financial reality. That said, look closely at your credit report because indices of identity-related fraud can be similar to spotting a cockroach — for every one you see, there may be more you don’t.

Don’t Make It Easy

Let’s make it more nerve-wracking: When you call to provide that information, who are you talking to?

Can You Send Social Security Number Through Email Securely

Email was never intended to be a communication channel for sending sensitive information. However, Gmail offers a confidential sending mode that adds an extra bit of security to your email.

Although I highly recommend you avoid sending your SSN through email, Gmailâs confidential mode is better than nothing. This confidential mode removes the recipientâs ability to copy, paste, download, print, or forward your email. However, they can still take screenshots of your messages and attachments.

Furthermore, the confidential mode allows you to set a passcode. If you enable the confidential modeâs SMS passcode, the recipient needs to enter the passcode sent to their phone in order to view the email.

Once you enable password protection, your SSN is protected from account hacks and breaches. However, your SSN is still exposed to server hacks and transmission interceptions. Therefore, thereâs no way to guarantee 100% security when you send your SSN through email.

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How Can I Protect My Social Security Number

By the time you’re an adult, your Social Security number has been entered into so many databases it’s impossible to keep it 100% secure. But there are steps consumers can take to better protect their account numbers.

Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or purse. Keep it in a safe place at home. And shred any documents or pieces of mail that include your number, rather than just throwing them out. Also, If you’re asked for your SSN, find out why.

“You should feel empowered to ask, ‘Why do you need this? Where are you storing this?'” Hanson said. “‘Is there another piece of information I can use instead?'”

If a company asks for your Social Security number, find out if there’s an alternate form of identification you can use.

Hanson recently took her daughter for a doctor’s visit, and the form at the counter requested both of their SSNs.

“There was really no need for them,” Hanson said. “So I left it blank on the form and they didn’t say anything.”

Another way to protect your Social Security number is by “freezing” your credit reports with Transunion, Equifax and Experian.

If someone tries to use your number to open a credit card or get a loan, the request for your credit report will be declined. You can freeze your report indefinitely or set a specific “thaw” date.

Your Social Security Number

Think of it as the secret password to access everything about your life. Thats why you should be hyper-cautious about who you give it out toand never, ever put it in a casual email or text. As a rule of thumb, the only times your SSN is actually required is when youre filing taxes, starting a new job or applying for a drivers license or government benefits. And even then, pen to paper is always a better plan.

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Know How To Spot A Scam

There are many types of financial scams out there: real estate, , investments, taxes, and more. The first rule of spotting a scam is if it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Scammers usually pretend to be someone you know like a distant family member, or someone with credibility like an IRS agent, police officer, bank employee, or tech company. They tell you theres a problem with your account or have won a prize but theres a fee to collect it.

A scammers primary weapon is to create a sense of urgency and pressure you to respond and act immediately. They will say anything to keep you on the phone and prevent you from checking out their story.

Finally, a scammer tells you to pay using an untraceable method like a gift card or money transfer.

Anyone calling from a legitimate business or agency will not object if you say you need to verify the information theyre giving you. They may even help you do so.

If you suspect someone is scamming you, report it to the FTC.

Email Security & Encryption: Overview

Simply put, email is inherently insecure. Although you log in to your email account with a password, that doesnât make your email transmissions secure.

When you send an email, it moves through a series of networks and servers to reach the end recipient, often in human-readable text. During this transmission, hackers can intercept your info without detection.

Dr. Catherine J. Ullman, a Senior Information Security Analyst for the University of Buffalo, states,

âemail by default is not and was never intended to be a secure mechanism for sending sensitive data.â

Thereâs no doubt that email is excellent for standard communication and messaging. However, when it comes to private information like Social Security numbers, email doesnât offer enough security and encryption to keep your data safe.

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Use Encryption If You Must Use Email

Email is convenient and fast, but it also poses some security risks. Your emails and attachments are likely vulnerable unless you take precautions, such as the use of encrypted communication.

Luckily, there are many encrypted services that security-minded consumers can use. Chip Capelli, an accountant located in Provincetown, Massachusetts, mentions LeapFILE as one such method that’s a game-changer.

At the very least, place your tax documents inside an encrypted wrapper such as a password-protected DOC, PDF, or ZIP file. “Scan everything to a PDF, and then password protect it,” Capelli advises.

Never send information that you want to keep private as plain text in the body of your email message. This poses big risks if you were to send the message to the wrong address or if prying eyes manage to access your email account. Taking simple precautionary steps goes a long way in helping to protect your finances.

Use An Identity Theft Protection Service

Identity theft protection services monitor your identity for suspicious activity. They alert you of any changes to your credit report and help you restore your identity if its stolen. In addition, they help you correct errors on your credit report by contacting creditors, banks, utility companies, phone companies, and other companies you use.

Identity theft protection companies include Aura, Identity Guard, and Lifelock. Credit bureaus often have their own version of ID theft protection as well. Be sure you understand what these providers charge.

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How To Protect Your Social Security Number & Avoid Identity Theft

If someone steals your Social Security number, they can use it to commit identity theft to open credit card accounts, get loans, apply for government benefits, or file for a tax refund in your name.

Identity theft can lead to significant financial, personal, and professional problems. So take steps to protect yourself and ensure no one steals your SSN.

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Networks The Email Is Sent Through

The 2018 Symantec Internet Security Threat Report states that 95% of cybersecurity breaches are due to human error. Cyber-criminals and hackers will always infiltrate your company through your weakest link, which is almost never your IT department. If your email is hosted externally from your organization, then when you email a contact outside of your organization, the email is sent over the internet using a minimum of three connections. So although networks are a little more complicated, they are much more open to access from multiple locations. If you are emailing someone on the same service, such as Outlook or Gmail, the first two network vulnerabilities could be compromised. If the recipient uses a different type of email host, then there is at least one more vulnerability of the connection between your host and the recipients email server. In other words, just because one or two connections are secure, there is no guarantee than the others are secure in the sequence.

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Leave Your Card At Home

Dont carry your Social Security card around with you in your wallet or purse. Dont enter your SSN into your phone, laptop, or other devices. It would be rare for you to need your card. Typically, reciting the number is all thats required. Keep the number in your head and the card locked up at home.

Shred Documents With Personal Information

Identity thieves may use your discarded documents to gather enough information to access your identity and credit history. In general, dont keep paper records any longer than is necessary because it increases your risk of identity theft. Shred documents that make it easy for someone to steal your identity.

This definitely includes any document containing SSNs, account numbers, bank statements and other financial information, insurance details, current or former addresses, or anything else a thief can use to answer identity challenges. Other sensitive documents include health insurance forms, doctors statements, prescription labels, and other medical paperwork. Shred those as well, even if they dont show your SSN.

Invest in a quality paper shredder and take time each month to destroy documents with vulnerable information.

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Security Tips For Sending Personal Data Over Email

What kind of information should I not send via email?

We all need to be mindful when sharing personal information, whether it is our own or that of others.

You should not send personally identifiable information via unencrypted email. It is not a secure way to send any information and could expose you to data hacking.

What is personally identifiable information?

Personally identifiable information or personal data is information that either on its own, or when put together with other data, can identify an individual.

Examples of PII include: social security numbers, tax identification numbers, home / business addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers, dates of birth, copies of government-issued IDs and health information.

Why is it dangerous to send PII over email?

When you send an email, you dont necessarily know how many networks or servers the message will pass through on its way to the recipient, or who has access to them. In addition, emails sitting on your device may be accessible to a third party. Lets also not forget the common error of emailing a message to the wrong recipient!

How can I securely transfer PII?

To be truly secure, the message must be encrypted before it leaves the senders computer and it must remain encrypted until the recipient receives it.

Business Owners:

Report It To Government Agencies

First, visit identitytheft.gov or call 1-877-IDTHEFT to report the theft and get an identity recovery plan. Then, report it to the IRS online or by phone at 1-800-908-4490. Finally, notify the Social Security Administration using your My Social Security Account.

You can also report the incident to local law enforcement and to the Internet Crime Complaint Center , which may help build a federal case.

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Get A Free Security Freeze

• Stop identity thieves from getting new credit in your name by placing a security freeze on your credit.
• All North Carolina consumers can now get free security freezes online. Identity theft victims and seniors can also get free security freezes by mail or phone.
• You can now get a special Protected Consumer security freeze to help protect a child or an incapacitated adult against identity theft.

Using Strong Passwords And Following Basic Security Protection Rules Are Not Enough

Billions of emails are being sent every day, but not every email sent is safe or secure. Many people think that email is secured simply because it is password protected or because they are using two-factor authentication or TLS . However, these are not enough on their own. Once the email has left your inbox, you basically have lost any control of it.

All emails are sent via the simple mail transfer protocol , which doesnt use any authentication at the transport level and is inherently insecure, according to the IETFs RFC 5321. The email is sent in clear text while it is being transmitted. This means that without adequate protection, sending an email is like sending a postcard: anyone can read it at any time! This means that while a message is sitting on your recipients server, it could be vulnerable to attack.

What can you do then? Here are four methods for how to send documents securely via email:

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Yet The Statistics Are Startling

In America, a hacker attack occurs every 39 seconds. According to research done at the Clark School at the University of Maryland, hacker attacks are nearly constant with one in three Americans affected every year. These hackers easily scrape the internet for everything from passwords to credit card information, and guess what? They get it thanks to people choosing to email their private and sensitive information.

Sure, a credit card can easily be cancelled. But what about your social security number, date of birth, or medical history? Not so easily. Even worse than getting hacked? Those details dont just go to one hacker that private information is sold over and over again.

What Are Other Tips I Can Use For Detecting Phishing Emails

• Verify the sender. Exercise caution when receiving email from a sender you dont know or havent heard from in a long time. Hover over the From email address to ensure it matches the displayed email or name of the sender.
• Look for poor choices in wording, phrasing, or spelling.
• If an email includes a business name, telephone number, or website link, verify the legitimacy of these items by searching for the official number or website in a search engine.
• Do not respond to emails requesting personal information. Reputable businesses and public agencies will not ask you for personal information in an email.

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Is It Safe To Text Social Security Number

Whether you need to send out your Social Security number to set up a bank account or apply for an apartment, keeping your SSN safe is crucial. However, you need a secure way to send it to the recipient.

So is it safe to text a Social Security number?

Itâs not advisable to text your Social Security number. Your phone can be stolen, and phone messages can be hacked since text messages arenât fully encrypted. So no, it isnât safe to text your Social Security number.

If your Social Security number falls into the wrong hands, the other individual can file fraudulent tax returns, collect benefits, and ultimately steal your identity.

Luckily, a platform like Trustworthy provides a secure collaboration solution for when you need to send your Social Security number to another person.

In todayâs in-depth guide, Iâll discuss:

• An overview of text messagingâs security and encryption

• If you should share your Social Security number by text

• Can you send Social Security number through text securely

• Tips for sending Social Security number by text

• Texting vs Trustworthy for sending Social Security number

When Should I Not Share My Social Security Number

There are many more instances when you shouldn’t offer up your Social Security number. With the proliferation of phishing schemes, never give out your information in an email or over the phone.

“If you’re not initiating the call, you should never share your personal information,” NortonLifeLock’s Hanson said. “Even if it looks like it’s coming from a legit company you do business with.”

Confirming the last four digits of your Social is lower risk, Hanson said, since it’s data a company already has.

Not everyone asking for your number has bad intentions: “Some businesses just want your code just because it’s a faster way to look up your account,” Hanson added.

But that’s not a good enough reason for them to have it.

Others may want it if they’re having you sign a contract, like a gym membership. “It’s an easier way to go to a collections agency if they have to,” Hanson said. “But there are other ways.”

While employers can ask for your Social, “it absolutely cannot be required to get a job,” Hanson said. So it shouldn’t be on any job application.

If they won’t budge and you’re not comfortable giving them your personal information, then don’t. “Every time another entity stores your Social, it’s one more chance for identity theft,” said Butler.

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