The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not be current. This website may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; we do not recommend or endorse the contents of any third-party sites. Readers of this website should contact their attorney, accountant or credit counselor to obtain advice with respect to their particular situation. No reader, user, or browser of this site should act or not act on the basis of information on this site. Always seek personal legal, financial or credit advice for your relevant jurisdiction. Only your individual attorney or advisor can provide assurances that the information contained herein – and your interpretation of it – is applicable or appropriate to your particular situation. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website owner, authors, contributors, contributing firms, or their respective employers.
Credit.com receives compensation for the financial products and services advertised on this site if our users apply for and sign up for any of them. Compensation is not a factor in the substantive evaluation of any product.
Having your Social Security number or card stolen isn’t exactly like getting your bank account information taken. You can easily get a new bank account number and have your bank freeze your accounts. On the other hand, it’s a bit more difficult to get a new Social Security number from the Social Security Administration.
The Social Security Administration loosely defines a Social Security number as a nine-digit number for identity-tracking purposes. It’s also used to track wages earned during someone’s lifetime for Social Security benefits.
As of 2011, the selection of this number is randomized. Whenever you start a new job or apply for government benefits, you need your Social Security number. It’s used to verify your identity and keep track of Social Security earnings.
You can locate your Social Security number on your Social Security card. If you can’t find your card, make sure you reach out to the Social Security Administration directly.
Since the government uses your social security number as a unique identifier, you can use it to do the following.
There are a lot of ways someone can steal your identity or Social Security number. Thieves could swipe your Social Security number by exploiting data breaches, going through the trash for personal documents or using any number of other approaches. Thieves can then sell your identity or pretend to be you to open various accounts in your name, access medical care, file fraudulent tax returns or, at worst, commit crimes.
ExtraCredit’s Guard It feature offers dark web monitoring and proactive alerts if it discovers that your Social Security number or other personal information has been compromised or shared online. In addition to alerts, Guard It offers $1 million identity theft insurance to help you with costs associated with identity restoration, legal expenses, and lost wages
Identity thieves can use many ways to steal your Social Security number, including:
The sooner you realize your Social Security number has been stolen, the better chance you have to mitigate the damages. This makes it critical to understand the warning signs of a stolen Social Security number so you can take prompt action. Some of the most common signs of stolen Social Security numbers include:
Once an identity thief has your Social Security number, they can commit all sorts of financial fraud, potentially leaving you on the hook for their misconduct. Social Security numbers are wrapped up in most aspects of Americans’ lives—employment, medical history, taxes, education, and bank accounts, to name a few. Below is a list of just a few things someone can do with your SSN if they get their hands on it.
Your Social Security number is the most important piece of personal information a bank needs when extending you credit or opening an account. With that number, a thief can get credit cards or loans. And when it’s time to repay them, they won’t, which will damage your credit score. Those missed payments are tied to your Social Security number, so they’ll end up on your credit report and could impact your ability to apply for any type of loan or new account in the future.
Once you spot suspicious transactions, you can use your credit scores and credit reports to detect fraud and put an end to it. Unfortunately, it could take years for the fraudulent information to be removed from your credit report and, as a result, for your credit scores to recover.
Thieves might have a difficult time accessing your bank account if they only knew your Social Security number. Most of the time, to either access an existing account or open up a new bank account, the bank would require additional forms of identification, such as your physical Social Security card, Real ID, or passport.
Also, many banks have implemented additional security measures to prevent this, such as requiring security questions to access your bank account.
Someone using your Social Security number could also undergo medical treatment, effectively tainting your medical records. Inaccurate medical records can have deadly consequences. For example, imagine what could happen if you received treatment based on a false history listing the wrong blood type. Additionally, thieves can poach your health insurance coverage, which could leave you in a bind when you need it.
Taxpayer identity theft continues to be a problem in the United States. Identity thieves use stolen Social Security numbers to get a fraudulent refund, which then delays any refund the victim is rightfully owed.
So, the sooner you file your taxes, the more likely you’ll get your refund before an identity thief has an opportunity to take advantage of your stolen identity. You’ll know someone stole your identity if your return is rejected as a duplicate. Then, you get to start the process of resolving the fraud and, if necessary, getting the refund you deserve.
Getting your Social Security number might just be a fraction of the thief’s crimes. If the identity thief gets arrested for another crime and gives your Social Security number to law enforcement, you can become tangled in their criminal history. Their criminal record could prevent you from getting jobs or interfere with anything else that requires a criminal background check.
A thief could also use your Social Security number to file for unemployment or Social Security benefits, depleting those resources and preventing you from accessing that assistance when you need it later on.
Having access to your Social Security number may be enough to help a thief steal money from your bank account. Financial tools, such as CashApp and Zelle, can make it easier for these thieves to transfer money out of your account and into another they can access.
With your Social Security number, someone may open a fraudulent driver’s license in your name in another state. Without even realizing it, someone could rack up tickets or even charges, such as a DUI arrest, under your name and Social Security number.
A common tactic thieves use with stolen Social Security numbers is to open phone or utility accounts under another name. When they fail to pay these bills, you could receive notification from collection agencies. This practice could also impact your credit score, as unpaid balances and missed payments can negatively impact your credit report.
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 your credit from Credit.com’s credit report card. 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 go to IdentityTheft.gov, a website run by the Federal Trade Commission, or call its hotline at 877-ID-THEFT.
If you believe your Social Security number has been stolen, it’s important to take immediate action. Below is a list of steps you should take to reduce the impact of a stolen Social Security number. It’s important to note that you don’t have to complete these steps in order. But you should complete as many steps as are applicable to your specific situation.
One of the first things you want to do is report the crime of identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission manages the IdentityTheft.gov website to handle these types of crimes. The website guides you through a series of steps to help you file a complaint.
Be sure to contact your bank and credit card companies and explain the problem. Each financial institution has its own procedures for handling identity theft. That company’s fraud department should help you with this process.
Request a free copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. If you notice any errors or suspicious activity on your credit reports, contact the corresponding credit bureaus and ask them to remove this information from your account. Sign up for a service, such as Credit.com’s Extra Credit®, to continuously track your credit.
In many cases, identity theft is also considered an internet crime. This allows you to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The center accepts complaints from across the country but may refer the case to local authorities when applicable.
Take the time to review your earnings statement with Social Security to make sure no one uses your Social Security number for work. You can access this report by setting up an account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Even if you file a complaint with the FBI, you should still file a police report with your local law enforcement agency. Depending on how your Social Security number was stolen and used, your local police officers may be able to help you or refer you to another agency.
It’s also recommended to put a credit freeze on your account while you’re dealing with the situation. This freeze prevents anyone from using your Social Security number to open new accounts or obtain credit, such as a car loan. To request this type of credit freeze, you must contact each credit reporting agency separately.
If a credit freeze seems too restrictive, you can have a fraud alert put on your account. This alert warns potential creditors that your identity may have been stolen, which should entice them to take extra steps to prove your identity before you can open an account.
In extreme cases, you may be able to request a new Social Security number. This is recommended for cases of reoccurring identity theft. While this step can stop identity thieves from using your information, you also could lose your credit history.
Understanding the answer to “What can someone do with your Social Security number?” can help you protect yourself and your finances. Below is a look at several preventive steps you can take to reduce the risk of someone stealing your Social Security number.
May 17, 2022
Identity Theft and Scams
May 20, 2021
Identity Theft and Scams
November 19, 2020
Identity Theft and Scams