What To Do If Your Social Security Number Is Stolen
- You’ll first want to file an identity theft report with the FTC.
- You should also consider freezing your credit or locking your credit with Experian CreditLock. You’ll need to freeze your credit with each of the three credit bureaus separately – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
- There’s also a fraud hotline managed by the Social Security Administration: 1-800-269-0271.
- If you confirm that you’re the victim of Social Security fraud, it’s also a good idea to contact your state tax office and notify them you’ve been victimized. For any personal safety concerns, contact your local police department and tell them you believe your identity has been compromised.
- You’ll also want to keep a close eye on your credit report for any new accounts being opened. You can use a product like Experian CreditWorks or Experian IdentityWorks to monitor your credit report and get alerts when new inquiries or accounts are added .
How To Find Out If Your Social Security Number Has Been Stolen
Thieves can operate under your identity for years without discovery, and some of these crimes are very difficult to detect. One of the best things you can do is regularly check a free credit report. Review your credit report thoroughly for unauthorized accounts or public records not related to you. These red flags could indicate clerical errors or identity theft. Either way, you want to watch out for it and act as soon as you see something suspicious. You can also check out these other ways you can find out if youre a victim of identity theft.
Christine DiGangi is the former Deputy Managing Editor – Engagement for Credit.com and covered a variety of personal finance topics. Her writing has beenfeatured on USA Today, MSN, Yahoo! Finance and The New York Times International Weekly, among other outlets. More by Christine DiGangi
is a USA TODAY content partner offering personal finance news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
Examples Of Identity Theft
Identity theft can occur in the following ways:
- Shoulder surfing or watching over someones shoulder to steal personal information or credentials
- Physically stealing a wallet or purse to obtain personal identity information
- Dumpster diving to retrieve documents that contain sensitive information
- Stealing mail to obtain credit cards, checks, or documents with personal information
- Stealing files or information from a medical office or business
- Phishing scams often sent through email as bogus attachments or links prompting an individual to log in to a fake website to steal login credentials, gain access to a personal account, and steal sensitive identity information
- Hacking or breaking into computers, systems, or services to steal personal information
- Data breaches when business or government accounts are illegally accessed
- Malware attacks tricking users into uploading malicious software that can take over a computer or network and steal data
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How Does Social Security Identity Theft Happen
There are several ways an SSN can end up with a thief. Some involve physical theft, and others can take the digital route. To what extent are SSNs at risk? Notably, there was the Equifax breach of 2017, which exposed some 147 million SSNs. Yet just because an SSN has been potentially exposed does not mean that an identity crime has been committed with it.
So, lets start with the basics: how do SSNs get stolen or exposed?
Thats quite the list. Broadly speaking, the examples above give good reasons for keeping your SSN as private and secure as possible. With that, its helpful to know that there are only a handful of situations where your SSN is required for legitimate purposes, which can help you can make decisions about how and when to give it out. The list of required cases is relatively short, such as:
- When applying for credit or a loan.
- Transactions that require IRS notification, like working with investment firms, real estate purchases, auto purchases, etc.
- Registering with a business as a full-time or contract employee .
If You Are Wrongly Accused Of A Crime Committed By An Identity Thief
“Criminal identity theft” is a label given to a particular type of identity theft. Criminal identity theft occurs when a suspect in a criminal investigation identifies himself or herself using the identity of another, innocent person. A special database in the California Department of Justice can help victims of this kind of identity theft. See our Consumer Information Sheet 8: How to Use the California Identity Theft Registry- A Guide for Victims of “Criminal” Identity Theft.
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What Comes First In My Recovery Plan
The first step of your recovery plan is to call the credit bureaus. Ask the credit bureau for an initial fraud alert. It is free and lasts for 90 days. The fraud alert makes it harder for thieves to open accounts in your name.
The next step is to ask all three credit bureaus for a credit report. If someone stole your identity, your credit report is free. Look at your credit report for things you do not recognize.
What Happens When I Get My Recovery Plan
You will want to call one of the credit bureaus. Ask the credit bureau for an initial fraud alert. It is free and lasts for 90 days. The fraud alert makes it harder for thieves to open accounts in your name. That credit bureau has to tell the other two.
Then you can ask all three credit bureaus for a credit report. If someone stole your identity, your credit report is free. Look at your credit report for things you do not recognize.
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What Do I Do Next Ongoing Steps To Take
As weve talked about in some of my other blog posts, identity theft can be a long-term problem where follow-up instances of theft can crop up over time. However, there are a few steps you can take to minimize the damage and ensure it doesnt happen again. I cover several of those steps in detail in this blog here, yet lets take a look at a few of the top items as they relate to SSN theft:
Consider placing a fraud alert.
Look into an all-out credit freeze.
A full credit freeze is in place until you lift it and will prohibit creditors from pulling your credit report altogether. This can help stop thieves dead in their tracks since approving credit requires pulling a report. However, this applies to legitimate inquires, including any that you make, like opening a new loan or signing up for a credit card. If thats the case, youll need to take extra steps as directed by the particular institution or lender. Unlike the fraud alert, youll need to notify each of the three major credit bureaus when you want the freeze lifted.
Monitor your credit reports.
Once every 12 months, you can access a free credit report from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Doing so will allow you to spot any future discrepancies and offer you options for correcting them.
Sign up for an identity protection service.
Activate An Extended Fraud Alert Or Credit Freeze
An extended fraud alert stays on your credit report for seven years to indicate to creditors that youâve been a victim of fraud or identity theft. Creditors must contact you to verify your identity and get your consent for new credit applications.
A is an anti-fraud mechanism that stops credit bureaus from sharing your information with certain third parties.
Hereâs how:
- Remember you only need to contact one credit reporting agency to place a fraud alert. That bureau must share your request with the other agencies.
- Be aware that an extended fraud alert will stay in place for seven years before it expires, while a credit freeze will remain in force until you contact a credit reporting agency to âthawâ the account.
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Redirecting Your Mail With Change
A change-of-address scam involves changing a personâs postal address with the United States Postal Service .
Criminals can do this simply by filling out a PS Form 3575 because the USPS does not require additional proof of identity for mail-in change-of-address applications.
In 2022, Richard Losey was one of 44,000 people in the United States who fell victim to a change-of-address scam.
It took the USPS over two weeks to stop forwarding Loseyâs mail after he reported the fraud. By then, the criminals had stolen his tax documents, credit card statements, and medical reimbursement checks.
âAll you have to do essentially is get somebodyâs name, their home address and then you can go in there and just do a change-of-address to send all their mail to yourself.â said Johnson and Wales Universityâs director of information security, Nicholas Tella.
Prevent Or Curtail Further Identity Theft Abuses By Contacting The Following Agencies
An identity thief may use your personal identifying information to fraudulently obtain a driver’s license, file for bankruptcy, apply for social security benefits or even get a passport. To head off such possibilities, contact the following agencies and follow their procedures to limit the damage an identity thief can do.
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How Do You Know If Someone Is Using Your Social Security Number Fraudulently
Your correct Social Security number doesn’t actually appear on your credit reports to protect your identity, but if any other Social Security numbers are attached to your name, those will appear in your personal information section.
An incorrect number doesn’t necessarily indicate fraud. For instance, someone could misread or mistype a number when reporting it to the credit bureaus. It’s important to look into it immediatelyboth with the creditor and the credit bureau. You can get a free copy of your Experian credit report here on Experian.com and you’re also eligible to get one free report from each of the three credit reporting bureaus every 12 months at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Also, if you see inquiries or new accounts on your credit report, you may have had your Social Security number compromised. SSNs can fall in the wrong hands if you’re a part of a data breach and your SSN is included in the hacked or stolen records. Identity thieves can also buy and sell your Social Security number on the dark web.
How Can Social Security Identity Theft Occur
A string of illegal websites known as the SSNDOB Marketplace was generating over $19 million in revenue before the FBI and Internal Revenue Service shut them down in July 2022.
SSNDOB was selling stolen personal information including names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers , and credit card numbers that belonged to ~24 million individuals in the United States.
Here are nine ways that identity thieves can steal peopleâs SSNs â and, subsequently, also steal their government benefits and money.
Take action:
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Your Most Unique Identifier Calls For Extra Care And Protection
Of all the forms of identity theft, the theft of a Social Security Number is certainly one of the most potentially painful because it can unlock so many vital aspects of your life. Its uniquely you, even more than your name alone at least in the eyes of creditors, banks, insurance companies, criminal records, etc. Your SSN calls for extra protection, and if you have any concerns that it may have been lost or stolen, dont hesitate to spring into action.
Try Identity Theft Protection
Get alerts up to 10 months ahead of similar services, if we detect that your info was stolen
If Someone Uses Your Social Security Number To Claim Unemployment Benefits Or To Work
If you suspect that someone else has claimed unemployment benefits using your Social Security number, call the California Employment Development Departments toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-800-229-6297. For more information, see their Web site at www.edd.ca.gov. Search on the site for “fraud.” Sometimes, an identity thief will use someone elses Social Security number to be eligible to work. Its a good idea to check your Social Security earnings record to see if income earned by a thief is being posted to your account. You can get a copy of your earnings record by calling 1-800-772-1213. Or get a Request for Social Security Statement at www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-7004.html. If you believe a thief is using your Social Security number to work or claim Social Security benefits, call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. Or report Social Security benefits fraud online at .
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What To Do If You Suspect Fraud
If you think your Social Security number has been used fraudulently, call the Federal Trade Commission at 877-438-4338, or file a report with the agency online. You can also reach the fraud hotline for Social Securitys Office of the Inspector General at800-269-0271, or submit a report to that office online.
The Social Security Administration also offers the ability to block electronic access to your number. It could be a good option if you need to lock down your account following a fraud incident. Call 800-772-1213 to request a block.
You could always protect yourself from ID fraud by having such bad credit that no one wants to steal your identity, but thats probably not in your best financial interest. Staying vigilant and implementing these protections is the way to go.
How To Report Identity Theft To Social Security In Three Steps
Lets say you spot something unusual on your credit report or get a notification that someone has filed a tax return on your behalf without your knowledge. These are possible signs that your identity, if not your SSN, is in jeopardy, which means its time to act right away using the steps below:
1. Report the theft to local and federal authorities.
File a police report and a Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Report. This will help in case someone uses your Social Security number to commit fraud, since it will provide a legal record of the theft. The FTC can also assist by guiding you through the identity theft recovery process as well. Their site really is an excellent resource.
2. Contact the businesses involved.
Get in touch with the fraud department at each of the businesses where you suspect theft has taken place, let them know of your situation, and follow the steps they provide. With your police and FTC reports, you will already have a couple of vital pieces of information that can help you clear your name.
3. Reach the Social Security Administration and the IRS.
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How To Protect Yourself: Identity Theft
Identity theft is a serious problem that affects millions each year. When an imposter uses your name, Social Security number , credit card number or any other form of personal information without your knowledge and permission, its a crime.
Unfortunately, sometimes victims remain unaware that their identity has been stolen until they receive monthly statements for credit card accounts they never applied for, credit reports including unfamiliar debts or monthly statements that include unauthorized charges.
If someone has stolen your identity, immediately take these three steps:
Take control of your identity.
Although identity thieves can destroy your personal finances, there are some things you can do to take control of the situation.
Some ways to handle the most common forms of identity theft are:
A- If an identity thief has stolen your mail for access to new credit cards, bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers and tax information or falsified change-of-address forms, that person has committed a crime. Report it to your local postal inspector. You may contact the United States Postal Inspection Service online at .
G- If any identity thief is using your name or SSN to obtain a drivers license, report it to your states Department of Motor Vehicles. Also, if your state uses your SSN as your drivers license number, ask to substitute another number.
Stay alert.
How Do I Close An Account That Is Not Mine
Your credit report might list accounts that you did not open. You can send a letter to the business that has the account. Ask them to close the account.
IdentityTheft.gov gives you letters that are filled out with your information. You can print the letter, sign it, and send it to the business. Send a copy of your Identity Theft Report with the letter.
A business might ask you to use a form to close an account. If they do, send that form.
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What Can Scammers Do With Your Stolen Ssn
- Take out new lines of credit. Many banks don’t require stringent identity confirmation measures for customers to open new lines of credit you often only need to provide an SSN, name, and address. Scammers can use your stolen PII to obtain new accounts, loans, or credit cards in your name.
- File fraudulent tax returns. Scammers can use your SSN to file a false tax return and collect your tax refunds. Most victims only find out theyâve been defrauded in a tax refund scam after they try to submit their legitimate tax returns.
- Commit Medicare fraud. A fraudster can use your SSN to access medical tests, prescription drugs, and medical care that isn’t covered by health insurance. Check to see if youâve been a victim of medical identity theft.
- Claim other benefits tied to your SSN. With your stolen SSN, scammers can file claims for unemployment, Veterans Affairs benefits, and even disability compensation. This could stick you with a record for fraudulently using state or federal benefits â impacting your tax obligations and leaving you open to investigation for government fraud.
- Give you a criminal record. A scammer can use your SSN to fabricate identity documents, like a driverâs license or passport. Criminals can use these fraudulent documents, including your stolen SSN, to identify themselves if they are arrested for a crime.
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