So any scammers that might have your social security number, they’re not going to be able to access that and go to a store and open a credit card or another kind of account. 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.
Once you file the reports, keep them safe for when you may need them in the future. You can reach out to your local police department on a non-emergency number or contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. This will prevent anyone, yourself included, from accessing or making any changes to your Social Security record.
What To Do If Your SSN Was Found On The Dark Web
If you were prevented from filing, you can submit the form with your paper tax return if someone else has already filed a return using your SSN. If your return was rejected due to someone claiming your dependent’s social security number, you will need to file a separate Form for them. You will not be able to file electronically and will need to submit a paper return. If fraud is suspected during processing, the IRS will contact you via mail with instructions. Most of the time, if a fraudulent account has been opened with your child’s Social Security number, you will need to contact one or all of the three major credit bureaus to open a dispute. Credit bureaus maintain records of most credit accounts, and disputes can be initiated if there is inaccurate or fraudulent information on your credit report.
These organizations can provide guidance on what to do next, and your report may contribute to future investigations of fraudulent activity. Join LifeLock Standard to monitor the dark web for your SSN and get alerts of potential fraud. Being proactive is one of the best ways to protect your child’s personal information and identity. Here a few things you can do to help secure your family’s personal information.
How Dangerous Is It If Your SSN Is On The Dark Web?
In addition to freezing your credit, there are ways to purchase additional protection. “You have varying levels of companies’ ability to protect the data that they’re collecting, and they may not fall under any regulation to do so because it’s like public data to begin with,” Steinhauer said. Finally, if your SSN is on the dark web, it means that it’s also probably floating around on the regular internet as well. This means that anyone who knows where to look could potentially find it and use it to take over your financial life. While the dark web may seem like an inaccessible place, personal data can end up there quite easily. Protecting yourself from these threats is essential to keeping your information safe.
Should You Be Worried If You Learn Your SSN Is On The Dark Web?
Creating a “my Social Security” account with the SSA is a proactive step to prevent others from creating one and to monitor your earnings record. This account allows you to review your Social Security Statement, check reported earnings, and estimate future benefits. You can create an account through Login.gov or ID.me, credential service providers for government agencies.
Verify The Source Of The Alert
- Act swiftly to ensure that necessary investigations can be carried out and appropriate measures can be taken to safeguard your personal information.
- Agencies like the IRS generally won’t make unsolicited calls asking for personal information like your SSN.
- Next, you’ll want to file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Once you’ve updated your passwords, you should enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on each of your accounts.
- It’s especially important to complete fraud and police reports if you are going to dispute fraudulent charges; otherwise, there’s no proof of your being a victim.
The discovery of your SSN on the Dark Web can be alarming and can open the door to various forms of identity theft and fraud. In recent times, data breaches have become more common, leaking sensitive information like SSNs onto parts of the internet where criminals can easily access and misuse them. For instance, residents in Oakland found their SSNs exposed following a city-wide data breach, underscoring the reality and closeness of this threat.
Review Your Credit Reports
- Earlier this month, a hacker leaked a version of the stolen NPD data for free on a hacking forum, tech site Bleeping Computer reported.
- In addition to freezing your credit, there are ways to purchase additional protection.
- Filing a police report is often necessary, especially if specific fraud instances are identified or creditors require it.
- You can sign up for an identity theft protection service to get ahead of identity thieves.
- It’s unclear, although the lawsuit claims that NPD “has still not provided any notice or warning” to Hoffman or other people affected by the breach.
Consider an SSN monitoring tool like Aura to alert you if your personal information is being illegally used. Mark is a staff editor at Gen who specializes in cybersecurity and identity protection. He aims to help readers learn how to navigate their digital lives more safely. As identity thieves become more advanced, you need to combine personal information protection, document handling, and cybersecurity best practices to protect your SSN. Data breaches and phishing attacks are two of the most likely ways for criminals to get hold of your Social Security number to sell or list on the dark web. 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.
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To safeguard your Social Security number, use the government’s free Self Lock feature. This tool prevents your SSN from being used for unauthorized employment verifications. You’re able to keep a close eye on your TransUnion credit report with free access from CreditWise.
To dispute something on your child’s report, you’ll need to prove that the credit report and Social Security number belongs to your child and that you are their legal guardian. In recent years, numerous high-profile data breaches have occurred, exposing vast amounts of sensitive information. These breaches have affected organizations across various industries, including retail, healthcare, finance, and government.
Find Out What Personal Information May Be Accessible Online
USA HERALD – If you’ve received news that your Social Security number (SSN) has made it to the Dark Web, you’re not alone, and you’re not helpless. Criminals today are exploiting SSNs for everything from opening credit cards to stealing tax refunds. As a legal analyst and journalist with a deep interest in protecting consumers, I can tell you—this is serious business. Let me walk you through what you need to do now to protect yourself and prevent further harm. Credit monitoring can help you detect possible identity fraud, and can prevent surprises when you apply for credit. However, your report can still be accessed for other reasons, such as if your current creditor wants to review your report or if you want to check your own credit.
File Reports With The FTC And Law Enforcement
Also, never share your personal information while using public internet. 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.
Have you been hacked on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok or another popular social media app? If you get tax forms like W-2s or 1099s in the mail from employers you’ve never worked with, it could mean someone used your SSN to get a job. In this type of employment fraud, someone who may not otherwise pass employment checks uses your identity instead.
However, navigating the dark web requires some technical knowledge and software like the Tor browser. Alternatively, you can use breach monitors to inform you what personal information, like your phone number or email address, has appeared on the darknet without needing to access it yourself. Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try to protect your identity, a cybercriminal may still successfully open an account under your name.
