Check Your Credit Report Monthly
Checking your credit report is something you just have to do every month now. Despite all the other precautions youve taken and the paper trails youve started, a good way is to simply see for yourself. If anything seems amiss, make sure to contact both the company with the account as well as the agencies which report the credit.
What To Do If You Think Your Social Security Number Has Been Compromised
If you think your social security number has been compromised, there are a few steps you should take immediately:
1. Contact the Social Security Administration to report the theft and to request a new card. You can reach them at 1-800-772-1213.
2. Contact the credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion and request that they place a fraud alert on your credit report. This will make it more difficult for someone to open new accounts in your name. You can reach Equifax at 1-800-525-6285, Experian at 1-888-397-3742, and TransUnion at 1-800-680-7289.
3. Close any accounts that have been opened in your name without your permission.
4. File a police report so you have documentation of the theft.
5. Keep an eye on your credit report for any suspicious activity and report anything suspicious to the credit reporting agency and to the police.
Watch For Unusual Activity
Criminals typically use SSN theft as the starting point for financial theft, insurance and tax refund scams, so you need to go down the list and contact all of those organizations to make sure your account information has not been changed, to look for any unusual activity and to add any additional protections you can to these accounts, Pierson said. These should include your email, health insurance, and any local, state or federal accounts you might have. You need to talk to each of those organizations to find out what additional anti-fraud protections can be added to your account.
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Check Your Banking Relationships
You will also want to check your major banking relationships because a stolen SSN could be just the beginning of a larger identity theft scheme aimed at your financial accounts, Pierson said. At a minimum, be sure to change your password and access to each of your bank accounts. Make sure your financial accounts also have dual-factor authentication turned on so that no one else can gain access to the account.
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 Can I Protect My Social Security Number For Free
Here are some things you can do to protect your Social Security number: Provide an alternativeform of identification. Inquire as to why they want it and how they intend to use it. Remove your card from your wallet and leave it at home. Mail and documents containing personal information should be shredded. Dont Use Your Social Security Number as a Password. Dont use an electronic device to send your Social Security number. Dont give it to random people.
Safely Dispose Of Old Electronics
- Make sure you have removed all of the personal information your old computer holds before you sell, donate or recycle it. For best results, use a wipe utility program that overwrites everything on the hard drive.
- Transfer phone books, contact lists, etc. to your new phone, and then wipe your old phone completely clean. Consult the owners manual, the manufacturers recommendations, and your service provider for tips on how to remove all of your old data, histories, photos, etc.
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While You’re On The Irs’s Website Get A Pin
The IRS offers a free, six-digit, identity protection PIN that you can get through their website. When you file your tax return you’ll need to provide that PIN to verify your identity. That makes it a lot harder for somebody else to file a tax return in your name, since even if they have your Social Security number they shouldn’t have your PIN.
To get the PIN just go to . You’ll need to go through a little process to verify your identity, then they’ll issue you the PIN.
It’s not a bad idea to do this proactively just to help limit the damage identity thieves could do later.
What If My Social Security Number Is Stolen
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We use our Social Security number frequently to verify our identity when starting a new job, opening accounts, visiting doctors offices, filing tax returns, receiving government benefits and services, and more. What if the unthinkable happens and your SSN is stolen? Would you know what to do?
Having your SSN stolen is something you never want to experience, but unfortunately, it does happen, and its happening more frequently because of the digital world we live in. If your SSN is stolen, you are at risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and fraud, which can cause major damage to your credit and even your finances. Below is some helpful information should your SSN be stolen and how to minimize the risk of this happening to you.
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How Do I Report My Social Security Card Stolen
You should call your local law enforcement to report your card stolen. They can take a police report and begin an investigation into finding the thief. You should also notify the Social Security Administration that your card has been stolen as well as the IRS. Notifying these agencies, in addition to the credit bureaus, will flag your SSN and make it more difficult for the thief to perform fraudulent activity using your SSN.
What If I Can’t Apply For A Card Online
If you can’t apply for a Social Security card online, then you will need to show the required documents in person at your local SSA office. The documents needed will depend on your current citizenship status and your age.
Different documents are needed if you are an adult and a U.S.-born citizen, a foreign-born U.S. citizen, or a noncitizen. Also, if you are replacing a Social Security card for a child, you’ll want to check the SSA website to determine which documents you will need.
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Social Security Combats Fraud
Social Security has zero tolerance for fraud. We diligently work at the national, regional, and local levels to combat fraud that undermines our mission to serve the American public.
To meet this challenge, we work closely with the Office of the Inspector General which investigates allegations of fraud and seeks to bring offenders to justice. The OIG refers cases to U.S. attorneys within the Department of Justice, and other state and local prosecuting authorities, for prosecution as a federal crimes.
Visit our OIGs Investigations page to view a list of recent fraud investigations.
Avoiding Social Security Fraud: Leave Your Social Security Card At Home
Urgent Travel …” alt=”Social security number and social security card online > Urgent Travel …”> Once you receive your replacement Social Security card, lock it away in a safe place until you absolutely need it. Experts advise to avoid carrying your card around on a regular basis partly because of the risk of losing it again, and partly because you really dont need to present your Social Security card on a regular basis. In fact, one Social Security expert says that Social Security cards are irrelevant in the digital age, and the real priority should be targeted at fraud protection.
Its extremely rare that you need your actual Social Security card, says Steven J.J. Weisman, Esq., an Amherst, Massachusetts-based college professor whose expertise is in investigating white-collar crime. A Social Security number is the most important piece of information that a criminal can use to make you a victim of identity theft so you shouldn’t carry it with you in your wallet, anyway.
But if you do lose your card, Weisman recommends taking direct action to protecting the cardholder from financial fraud.
Because of the danger of identity theft if your Social Security card is lost, you should put a credit freeze on your credit reports at each of the three major credit reporting agencies in order to prevent someone from leveraging the Social Security number into accessing your credit or establishing accounts in your name, he says.
Other data security experts agree, citing the high risk of losing a card if you cart it around in your wallet or pocketbook.
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Write Letters To All Three Bureaus
Dont worry about your penmanship you can type these letters up. But you must send written requests to each of the three credit bureaus. You will have to include personal information including your legal name in full, your date of birth, your Social Security Number, the address at which you currently live, all previous addresses from the past two years, and the reason for which you need a freeze.
Call All Three Bureaus
This isnt a pre-date chat where youre relegated to just texting youre allowed to nag the bureaus with other forms of communication. And since time is of the essence, a little redundancy and repetition wont hurt, either. Call the same three bureaus and ask for a freeze. You will need the same information you provided in Step 3.
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And Now Replace Your Social Security Card
There is no charge for replacing a lost or stolen Social Security card, so watch out for scammers offering card replacement services for a fee. You can replace your own or your childs card, but you are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during your lifetime. Replacing a card because of legal name changes or changes in U.S. citizenship and naturalization status does not count against those limits.To get a replacement Social Security card you will need to:
- Complete Form SS-5 Application for a Social Security Card.
- Present an unexpired original document, like a drivers license, with identifying information and preferably a recent photograph that proves your identity
- Show evidence of your U.S. citizenship if you were born outside the United States and did not show proof of U.S. citizenship when you got your original card and
- If you are not a U.S. citizen, show evidence of your current naturalization or lawful noncitizen status.
Replacement Social Security cards cannot be applied for online. You must either take or mail the completed SS-5 application and all required documents to your local Social Security Office. To find your local Social Security service center, see the SSAs Local Office Search website.
What To Do If You Lose Your Social Security Card
Now that you know the basics, lets take a deeper dive on what to do if you lose your Social Security card. To be sure, quick action is important.
If an individual loses their Social Security card, the first thing they should do is make sure they have claimed their My SSA profile at the Social Security My Account website, says Devin Carroll, founder of Social Security Intelligence, in Texarkana, Texas. Not only can you request a replacement card, you can also quickly check the accuracy of your annual earnings history, print benefits statements and change your address.
When you do reach out to the Social Security Administration to report and replace a lost card, know going in that the agency has a substantial to do list that needs to be completed before they’ll even accept your request for a new Social Security card.
The good news is that the Social Security Administration provides, free of charge, three card replacements on an annual basis, and 10 free cards in the course of an individuals lifetime.
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Claim Your My Social Security Profile
Every individual with an SSN is eligible to create a free my Social Security account to update their personal information and request a replacement Social Security card. In the event that your physical Social Security card is stolen, claim your SSA profile immediately.
Hereâs how you do it:
Visit the SSA website to create your own my Social Security profile or get started here. Pair your email address with a unique, never-before-used password for ultimate protection against future identity theft.
Report It To The Police
If you see something, say something especially if you see it done to yourself. If you are a victim of any crime, you should report it to your local police in any case. If you are the victim of identity theft, you are going to have to freeze your Social Security Number. In order to qualify for a freeze free of charge, you are required to have a copy of the police report.
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To Place A Temporary Fraud Alert On Your Account
Go to the website of any of the three major credit bureaus and select that you want to add a fraud alert.
Note: You only need to do it at one credit bureau. Once you place the fraud alert at any of the three bureaus, they automatically notify the other two.
A temporary fraud alert doesn’t require a reason or any documentation beyond confirming your identity.
How To Get A Replacement Social Security Card
To get a Social Security replacement card, visit the SSAs My Social Security account website. Youll be taken through the steps of requesting a replacement card. Keep in mind that you can use this online site to request a replacement card if you:
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To apply for a replacement Social Security card, either online or via mail, you’ll need one acceptable personal identification document. By and large, your birth certificate will suffice, although the SSA will also accept the following proof of identity:
- A U.S. hospital record of your birth.
- A religious record indicating your date of birth .
- A current valid U.S. passport.
- A final adoption decree .
There are several exceptions if you cant get the needed identification documents, or dont have them at all. The SSA will accept other forms of identification that show your legal name and biographical data. Acceptable options include a U.S. military I.D. card, a U.S. Certificate of Naturalization, employee identity card, a certified copy of a medical record , a health insurance card, Medicaid card, or school identity card.
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How To Get A New Social Security Card
If your social security card is lost or stolen, you can get a new one by requesting a replacement card from the Social Security Administration . You can do this online, by mail, or in person at your local SSA office.
To request a replacement card online, you will need to create an account on the SSA website. Once you have created an account, you will be able to log in and request a new card.
If you would prefer to request a replacement card by mail, you can do so by filling out Form SS-5 and mailing it to your local SSA office.
You can also request a replacement card in person at your local SSA office. To do this, you will need to bring two forms of identification, such as a drivers license, passport, or state ID card.
Contact Companies Where Your Social Security Number Has Been Used Fraudulently
In the case that your information was used to create fraudulent accounts, you’ll want to contact each company involved. For example, if your SSN was used to create bank accounts or credit accounts in your name, reach out to each company and explain that you’re a victim of identity theft. They can then close your accounts so the identity thief can’t use the accounts any longer.
If someone used your information to create fraudulent identification records, you’ll need to contact all agencies involved, possibly including the IRS, Social Security Administration and your secretary of state’s office, which handles cases of fraudulent identification.
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Beware Of Scams & Frauds
- Never give personal information to telemarketers who call you on the phone. To cut down on unwanted telemarketing calls, sign up for the Do Not Call Registry online or call 382-1222.
- Double-check references for door-to-door sales, home repair offers and other products.
- Verify that charities, businesses and others who contact you are who they claim to be before you provide any personal information. If you think the request for information is legitimate, hang up and contact the company at a number you know is valid to verify the request.