Social Security Identity Theft: How It Occurs and What You Can Do?

Social Security identity theft is just a sort of identity theft in which a person’s Social Security number is stolen and used for fraud. This is a punishable crime that has the potential to result in monetary loss, damage to one’s credit score, and a wide variety of other adverse effects on one’s life. In this article, we will talk about the different ways that social security identity theft can occur, the different ways that you can check whether or not somebody is using your Social Security number, and the different steps that you can take if you find out that your personal information has been stolen.

Theft of a person’s social security number poses an ever-increasing risk to the confidentiality of that individual’s private information. It takes place when an unauthorized person accesses your social security card number and then uses it to gain access to your financial records or engage in other fraud cases. This article will discuss the various methods by which social security identity theft can take place and will offer advice to readers on how they can determine whether or not their social security number is being used fraudulently by third parties. In addition, we will present consumers with options for safeguarding the information associated with their social security numbers against the risk of improper use.

Signs that Someone Might Have Your Social Security Number

One of the most frequent types of identity fraud committed in the U.s is a theft of one’s Social Security card. If a person were to steal your Social Security card number, they may potentially use it to gain illegal use of the facilities that are made accessible to people who participate in Social Security. Theft of one’s Social Security number can happen in a few different ways. Theft of one’s identity through the Social Security system can occur in a number of different ways. The following are among the most common:

Phishing Attacks and scams

Phishing scams involve thief’s e – mailing, texts, or phone calls that look to be coming from a reliable source, like a banks or the Social Safety Administration (SSA). Sometimes, the messages will require private data from you, such as your Social Security card number, and they may blackmail you with undesirable outcomes if you do not offer this information. If you give in to the con and give the con artist your Social Security number, they will be able to utilize it to steal your identity.

Data breaches

When a hacker gains access to a company’s financial accounts and steals sensitive information such as a Social Security card number, the company is at risk, this is known as a data breach. The security of your Social Security card number may have been compromised when you have an account with concerned company. Companies like Sony, Target, and Anthem have all experienced significant data breaches in recent years. The following are some other methods of breaching that are regularly seen:

A trusted employee or member of authority who has access privileges and steals data is an example of an insider leak.
Fraud involving payment cards typically involves the use of actual skimming devices, which steal information from payment cards.
A number of the company’s tangible assets, including portable drives, computers, office workstations, files, and other items, were either misplaced or stolen.

Accidental disclosure occurs when private information is made public as a result of errors or carelessness.

Undisclosed: In a few instances, the real mechanism of the security breach is either unknown or has not been reported.

Lost or stolen mail or wallets

Your Social Security card number could be one of the items that are taken if someone steals your wallet or mails it to themselves. Criminals are capable of using the data to establish credit accounts in their own names or to request for loans.

Theft by relatives or acquaintances

Regrettably, members of the same family can commit identity theft using their Social Security numbers to steal identities. Your Social Security card number could be stolen by friends or family members, who could then use it to get credit or payments in your name.

How to check if you think Your Social Security Number Has Been Stolen?

If you suspect someone else is misusing your Social Security number, you may perform the following:

Check the report on your credit.

Unauthorized credit accounts on your credit report can indicate identity theft using your Social Security number. All of the three main credit reporting departments (Equifax, Experian, and Credit reporting agencies) will give you a free report on your credit history once a year.

The appearance of an illegal credit card account on your credit history is one of the earliest warning indicators that your social safety number may have been stolen and used for identity theft. Once a year, you are permitted to submit a request to receive a complimentary report on your credit from all three main credit reporting agencies, which are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Keep an eye on your financial institutions and credit card accounts.

Check your credit card and bank statements on an every-month basis for any suspicious transactions or activities.

Initiate fraud warnings

You have the ability to set up fraudulent transactions with the credit reporting companies, which will tell you if there is any action on your credit report that appears to be questionable.

Tips to keep your Social Security identity safe:

If you think your Social Security card number has been utilized to steal your identity, you should do the following:

Contact Social Security.

Call the Social Security Administration’s fraud hotline, 1-800-269-0271, to report the theft. They can assist with credit freezes and new Social Security numbers.

Credit report freezing

Someone has stolen your Social Security card information; you should immediately put a freeze on your credit. Scammers cannot start new accounts or get loans in your identity if you freeze your credit. Freezes of credit cost nothing. Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion must be contacted separately.

Report to the police

Make a complaint with your local police department. This will make an official history of the theft, which may be needed by banking firms or other organizations. You should contact the non-emergency number of the police department in your area and discuss that you need to register a complaint for identity theft. It is possible that they will require you to come in with evidence of the crime, a primary form of identification (such as a driver’s license), and your FTC complaint.

Watch your accounts.

Keep an eye on your credit card and banking accounts to make sure no one is using them without your permission.

Protect your identity with a service.

Many identity theft prevention services monitor credit reports and notify you of unusual activities. Some services also do

The Most Recent SSN Frauds (and How to Avoid Them)

Scammers know how valuable your SSN is and have come up with a lot of ways to try to steal it. Here are a few of the most recent SSN scams you should watch out for:

Phone scams in which you are asked to “check” your identity by entering your Social Security number.
Malicious hackers pretend as government or bank workers and need your SSN to “confirm” your identity.
Job scams where fake employers start questioning for your Social Security number as a requirement for applying for a job. Research new jobs before applying, but never provide out your SSN. After your interview and company research, they may need it for a background check.
Data breaches that let your sensitive information get out. Watch out for financial institution data leaks. It’s always a good idea to check the Dark Web in order to determine whether your passwords or other personal documents have been leaked.
If your mail or trash is stolen and contains your SSN. Your location, phone number, details about your bank account, SSN, and other critical information should be shredded.
Fake websites that take your personal information. Never enter personal details into websites unless you’re confident they’re legitimate. Aura’s safe browsing capabilities can alert you to fake websites.
Personal data-stealing emails and messages. Learn the signs of a phishing attack, and never respond to inappropriate messages by giving out sensitive information like your Social Security number.
Security Administration to see if anyone made money without permission.

Taking everything into consideration, Social Security Identity fraud is a severe crime that can affect anyone, regardless of their personal circumstances. Identity theft can be prevented by being alert of its methods, checking your account statements and bank accounts, and acting quickly if you suspect you’ve been a victim.

How can social security identity theft occur?