5 Crucial Moves to Make After Your Social Security Number Has Been Stolen, According to Experts

You need your Social Security number to start a job, open a bank account, apply for a loan, claim benefits and file taxes. When it’s stolen, thieves can use it to apply for more credit in your name or even apply for your government benefits.

More than three in five (61%) Americans have had their personal data breached, and 44% have had it happen to them multiple times, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Digital Privacy Survey Report 2024. This has led to 65% of respondents being concerned about cyber attacks in 2024.

If you’ve fallen victim, there are crucial steps you must take to protect yourself. “This is one of those times when taking steps to protect yourself is an absolute must, as the ramifications of a misused SSN can be incredibly damaging – both financially and emotionally,” wrote Paige Schaffer, CEO of Iris powered by Generali, an identity and cyber protection company, in an email.

Here’s what experts recommend after you’ve had your Social Security number stolen.

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How Hackers Steal Your Personal Data

According to Schaffer, thieves use various techniques to access Social Security numbers and other personal data. In one of the most recent data breaches, hackers infiltrated National Public Data’s (NPD) databases and stole 2.9 billion records, including names, addresses, SSNs and familial data.

“Now, because of this massive breach, we’re likely to see an influx in phishing attacks, as hackers hope to uncover more details from specific victims (and inflict more damage),” Schaffer explained.

A phishing attack is a type of cyberattack that uses fake emails, text messages, websites or phone calls to trick people into sharing sensitive information or log-in credentials. These attacks will likely mimic legitimate institutions, such as banks, government agencies or other familiar businesses.

How This Affects You

When hackers have your personal information, they can commit almost any type of fraud. According to Schaffer, these criminals can open new credit accounts, commit tax fraud, secure loans, apply for government benefits, such as unemployment or Social Security benefits, and much more.

“While other types of leaked data can be changed, you typically get just one SSN in your lifetime (and no one wants to go through the headache of being granted and maintaining a new one),” Schaffer wrote.

What’s alarming about the NPD breach is that most people have never heard of this company or have done business with them. Instead, it’s a data aggregator that gathers personal information by scraping public and nonpublic sources without consent, Schaffer explained.

“We could see immediate fallout, or the chaos may begin years down the line – likely both,” she wrote. “The only thing we can be sure of is that the impact of exposed SSNs of almost all Americans has the potential to be catastrophic.”

What To Do After Your Social Security Number Has Been Stolen

If you’re a victim of identity theft and your Social Security number has been misused, here’s what you can do.

  • Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Visit IdentityTheft.gov to fill out a form and get a recovery plan or browse recovery steps. You can also call 877-438-4338.

  • Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This can help prevent thieves from using your SSN to steal your tax refund, unemployment benefits or apply for a job. If this has already happened, visit the IRS’s Identity Theft Central to dispute these claims.

  • Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA). Report the fraud online at oig.ssa.gov or contact the OIG’s fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271

  • Place a fraud alert. Schaffer recommends placing a fraud alert by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus. “This requires creditors to take extra verification steps before opening any new accounts and last one year,” she explained.

  • Freeze your credit. You can also place a freeze on your reports, preventing creditors from accessing your credit report entirely. “Unlike fraud alerts, freezes can be lifted only when you personally request it,” she wrote.

How to Prevent Identity Theft

The SSA says there are several things you should do to prevent identity theft:

  • Never carry your SSN or say it aloud in public.

  • Be aware of phishing scams trying to deceive you into revealing your personal information. Always verify the sender and never click on any links or attachments you’re unsure of.

  • Regularly review your records for suspicious activity by creating a my Social Security account through the SSA.

  • Consider an eServices block through the SSA to prevent anyone from seeing or changing your personal information online.

  • Consider a Direct Deposit Fraud Prevention block through the SSA to prevent anyone from enrolling in direct deposit or changing your address or direct deposit information.

Schaffer also urges everyone to set up two-factor authentication with as many accounts as possible and to consider setting up an identity theft protection program. “Just be sure you do your research and find a comprehensive plan that includes dark web monitoring so you can make sure it’s scanning for your SSN and other sensitive data, as well as credit monitoring, 24/7 resolution services and even an insurance component,” Schaffer added. SOURCE

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