Enabling two-factor authentication, changing your passwords, and staying vigilant against phishing attempts further strengthen your digital security. By notifying your financial institutions promptly, you increase the chances of limiting the potential harm caused by the compromised SSN. They can assist you in protecting your accounts, monitoring for suspicious activities, and providing guidance on the next steps to take. Stay vigilant and continue to monitor your financial statements and credit reports regularly for any signs of unauthorized activity. If your SSN was leaked, check your credit reports (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) for any unauthorized activity (and do so regularly going forward!).
Technology and cybersecurity expert Kim Komando dishes the dirty details about the five most duplicitous scams swirling the web right now. CreditWise is only available to US residents who are 18+, have a Social Security Number, and have a report on file at TransUnion. These are some of the most common ways that your SSN might be compromised and the warning signs to look out for. He spent a handful of years at Peachpit Press, editing books on everything from the first iPhone to Python.
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It will not prevent you from using your active credit,” Annie Mitchell, CEO of the BBB of Eastern Oklahoma, told Fox 23 News. The Better Business Bureau (BBB), the go-to organization for consumers to resolve complaints against businesses, also provided its own set instructions, which align with the SSA’s recommendations. The BBB, like the SSA, suggested monitoring your bank and credit card accounts for odd activities and purchases. In an early August Bloomberg Law report, it was discovered that ultra-sensitive and personal information of nearly three billion people was leaked in an April 2024 data breach. A cybercriminal group called “USDoD” exposed a database owned by National Public Data, a background check company, on a dark web forum. Information security company McAfee reported that it hasn’t found any filings with state attorneys general.
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It requires that you input your first name, last name, year of birth, and what states you’ve lived in. If your SSN was leaked, the site will present you with a chart showing your address in the record and the last two numbers of your SSN. Services like LifeLock or IdentityForce monitor your SSN for misuse and alert you to potential fraud. Dispose of old documents containing your SSN, such as tax returns or bank statements, using a cross-cut shredder. This prevents thieves from retrieving your information from discarded papers.
How SSNs End Up On The Dark Web?
A credit monitoring service notices any changes in your credit report and alerts you if there is suspicious activity that could indicate fraud. Remember, some credit card companies offer this service for free if you have an account with them, so contact your credit card company to see if they offer credit monitoring. A credit monitoring service can constantly monitor your credit report on major credit bureaus and alert you when it detects unusual activity. With a monitoring service, you can set fraud alerts that notify you if someone is trying to use your identity to create credit, including someone trying to use your Social Security number. A child’s untapped identity and credit history is an attractive target for identity thieves, who open credit cards, commit tax fraud, apply for government benefits, or find a place to work or live. This kind of identity compromise can go undetected for years — at least until your child applies for a credit card account or loan.
Use Identity Theft Protection Services
This is a free notice you can place on your credit report that lets creditors know you’re at a higher risk for identity theft and requires that they verify your identity before approving new credit applications. If your SSN was found on the dark web, you are most likely concerned about your identity being stolen. This form should be used if your Social Security number has been compromised and IRS has informed you that you may be a victim of identity theft tax fraud, or your e-file return was rejected as a duplicate.
This reduces the chances of physical theft or accidental exposure of sensitive documents. Cybercriminals use marketplaces on the dark web to sell and trade personal information. This information can be used to steal your identity, target you with scams, and commit other crimes against you. This means it can’t be accessed by regular web browsers such as Google Chrome or Safari.
- However, your SSN can also be compromised by malware lurking on your computer, fake forms on unsafe websites, through mail theft, or if you lose your wallet and it falls into the wrong hands.
- Alina is a history buff passionate about cybersecurity and anything sci-fi, advocating Bitdefender technologies and solutions.
- Filing a police report is often necessary, especially if specific fraud instances are identified or creditors require it.
- In addition, your SSN may be sold multiple times on the dark web, which can make it difficult to regain control of your personal information.
- Having your Social Security Number (SSN) exposed on the dark web presents a threat to your identity and financial security.
Identity Protection PINs (IP PINs) stop someone from filing tax returns by using your SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Only you and the IRS know your IP PIN, and it must be entered on every federal tax return. You can try to change your SSN, but there are only certain cases in which the government permits this — like if you’ve faced ongoing fraud or are at risk of physical harm or harassment. Jory MacKay is a writer and award-winning editor with over a decade of experience for online and print publications. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Victoria and a passion for helping people identify and avoid fraud.
Strengthen Your Online Accounts
Your credit report includes a variety of personal information, such as physical past addresses, in addition to your financial accounts. In general, whenever you have a change in your personal information (including to your SSN), it may be a good idea to inform lenders, creditors, and credit reporting agencies. Be sure to remain vigilant for signs of potential fraud or identity theft and take action promptly.
The background check company, which is owned by Jerico Pictures Inc., recently released details of the breach after a proposed class action lawsuit alleged 2.9 billion personal records may have been exposed. Other reports suggest the amount of records leaked may have been more than 2.7 billion. Many companies offer credit monitoring plans that help combat credit-card hacking. For example, AAA offers ProtectMyID, a complementary credit monitoring service for all AAA members.
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Social Security’s Self Lock feature keeps thieves from using your SSN for work authorization, which can help you avoid problems resulting from employment identity theft. Start your free 30-day trial of Keeper Password Manager today to discover its helpful features to protect your identity and SSN. Stefan Lembo-Stolba leads Experian Consumer Service’s data research on Ask Experian, publishing insights based on Experian’s credit data of over 220 million U.S. consumers.
Contact each credit bureau directly to find out what their process is for opening a dispute on your child’s behalf. One of the first things you can do is change any potentially compromised passwords to help keep people from taking over your accounts. If you use the same password—or similar password variations—for multiple accounts, you may want to change the other accounts’ passwords as well.
Identity theft can affect all people, and last year more than 1 million children fell victim to some sort of identity fraud. In some situations, your liability could depend on how long you take to report the fraud. You could be liable for up to $50 if you take up to two business days, or up to $500 if you wait longer. If more than 60 days go by, you could be responsible for the full amount of new unauthorized transactions. Criminals can use this information in a variety of ways, such as impersonating you, creating a fake identity, opening credit accounts in your name or getting a medical procedure using your insurance. To safeguard your Social Security number, use the government’s free Self Lock feature.
A credit freeze is more secure than a fraud alert, which only requires lenders to take additional precautions before extending credit to you — something scammers have learned to circumvent. In the wake of discovering your SSN on the dark web, taking steps to monitor and secure your digital footprint is crucial. Malwarebytes offers a comprehensive solution for scanning your digital footprint, enabling you to identify where your personal information might be exposed online. Note that placing a freeze will also impact your ability to apply for credit.
The one common link is the victim, the person whose identity, financial or personal information has been compromised. Child identity theft can wreak havoc on your child’s financial life if it’s not detected early. And once your child’s information is compromised, it can be tough to regain control over the information. Fraudsters have a plethora of ways they can use personal information maliciously. From Social Security numbers to social media usernames and passwords, once fraudsters get their hands on your child’s information, they have plenty of ways to exploit their identities.
