They’ll walk you through a personalized recovery plan to help you mitigate and reverse any financial and legal damage. government online at or by calling 877-IDTHEFT (87). The most important thing to do is report instances of identity theft to the U.S. If your Social Security number is compromised and know you’re already the victim of identity theft, act quickly to take the following steps: What to do if your Social Security number is compromised Learn more about fraud alerts, security freezes and credit report locks. Once the security freeze is in place, you'll be able to verify its status through your myEquifax account. You can place a security freeze on your Equifax credit report online by creating a myEquifax account. If you choose to place a freeze on your credit reports, you’ll have to file separately with each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) - Equifax ®, TransUnion ® and Experian ®. Security freezes are free, have no effect on your credit scores and can be lifted and replaced at any time. So, if an identity thief tries to apply for a new credit card in your name, the credit card issuer won't be able to see your credit reports, leading them to deny the application. The good news is you can help better protect against credit fraud with a security freeze (also known as a credit freeze), which stops creditors from accessing your credit reports to open new credit accounts. Fraudulent lines of credit can hurt your finances and sink your credit scores, and the process to reverse the damage can be long and complicated. If identity thieves have your Social Security number, they may be able to apply for credit in your name including new auto loans, credit cards, student loans and personal loans. What else can you do if your SSN has been stolen? You can temporarily unlock your SSN if you know a new employer will need to confirm your eligibility for employment. Placing a self-lock through E-Verify stops anyone from using your SSN to apply for a job - but that also includes you. In this scenario, the wages a thief earns are falsely reported to the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other government agencies in your name. When a criminal steals your SSN, they may attempt to obtain employment in your name in a type of fraud known as employment identity theft. You can also place what’s known as a self-lock on your SSN through E-Verify ® at a government service that employers use to confirm a job applicant’s eligibility to work. You can remove this block down the road as long as you provide proof of identity as required by the Social Security Administration. This process prevents anyone - including you - from changing or accessing your Social Security record. If you suspect that your SSN has fallen into the wrong hands, take action to make it more difficult for your Social Security information to be shared or seen by a stranger.įirst, you can contact the Social Security Administration by phone at 80 and request to block electronic access to your Social Security information. What happens during a Social Security number lock? Discrepancies in your tax returns or Social Security benefit statements.Collections calls for debt you don’t owe.Bills for credit cards you haven’t applied for.Unexplained withdrawals in your checking or savings accounts.Incorrect information on your credit reports.Phishing is a kind of email, texting or phone scam that tricks you into providing personal information by sending you communications that appear to come from a legitimate, trusted source.īe on the lookout for the following suspicious activity that may indicate identity theft: For example, you may have been the victim of a phishing attack. Unfortunately, you may not know that someone has stolen your SSN until it’s too late. If your Social Security information has been compromised, you may be able to use an SSN lock to prevent some access to your personal information. When should you lock your Social Security number? This is where something called a Social Security number lock may come in handy. It’s important to protect your SSN to the best of your ability - but that’s not always possible. It helps you file taxes, receive income from your job, open credit accounts, qualify for retirement benefits and identify yourself to the government. Your Social Security number (SSN) is one of the most important pieces of financial information in your life. If your Social Security number is compromised and you’re already the victim of identity theft, act quickly to safeguard your personal information.Locking your Social Security number prevents anyone - including you - from changing or accessing your Social Security record.If your Social Security number has been compromised, you may be able to block some access to your personal information with a Social Security number lock.
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