It’s a hub for cybercriminals to trade stolen data, including Social Security numbers (SSNs), credit card information, and login credentials. If you think your Social Security information has been compromised, review your credit reports to check for any fraudulent activity. That means that no one—including you—will be able to open any new accounts in your name during the freeze. To apply for credit or to run a credit check for purposes of signing a lease or applying for a new job, you will need to lift your credit freeze permanently or temporarily. Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your credit report.
Credit Locks
This will help protect your accounts from being compromised and other personal information from getting into the wrong hands. Setting up 2FA won’t do you any good if cybercriminals have access to your phone number. With your SSN, they can contact your service provider to receive a new SIM. This type of attack is known as a “SIM swap” and allows fraudsters to intercept your phone calls and texts—including 2FA codes and password reset links.
Impel Global: Transforming Financial Messaging And Payments Through Blockchain Precision
If this happens, contact the company immediately and report the fraudulent activity. 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. Signing up for a credit monitoring service can help you keep your identify safe, while giving you peace of mind. Having your Social Security number on the dark web leaves you vulnerable to identify theft.
Monitor Your Accounts Closely
While the steps outlined in this guide can seem overwhelming, tackling them one at a time will help you regain control over your personal information and financial security. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you feel overwhelmed or encounter complex issues. However, it’s important to note that while they can be helpful, they don’t guarantee complete protection. You should remain vigilant and take additional steps to secure your personal information. The Experian Smart Money™ Debit Card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB), pursuant to a license from Mastercard International.
Does anyone have any experience with this – is this legit or is there a better process to follow? The dark web serves as a marketplace for cybercriminals to trade and sell stolen personal information, including Social Security numbers (SSNs). There are several ways in which SSNs end up on the dark web, often as a result of data breaches, hacking incidents, or the activities of malicious actors. Welcome to the digital age, where personal information has become a valuable commodity on the internet.
How To Protect Your Identity If Your Social Security Number Is Leaked On The Dark Web
A credit freeze offers stronger protection by restricting access to your credit report entirely. While a fraud alert prompts verification, a credit freeze prevents new credit accounts from being opened in your name unless you temporarily lift it. To implement a credit freeze, you must contact each of the three credit bureaus individually (online, phone, or mail). Both fraud alerts and credit freezes are free to place and do not negatively impact your credit score. Although you should regularly monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity, you should review your credit reports – especially if you believe your SSN has been compromised.
How To Freeze Your Social Security Number?
Using your compromised SSN is one of the easiest ways for someone to steal your identity — and you won’t always be able to stop them. Beyond the financial and privacy implications, SSN exposure can also cause emotional distress and consume significant time and resources to resolve. 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. Select three security questions and remember your answers, as you will be asked the same questions when you are ready to remove the lock from your SSN.
Sign Up For Identity Theft Protection
By staying vigilant, taking protective measures, and seeking professional assistance if necessary, you can safeguard your identity and financial well-being. The odds of someone using your Social Security number to conduct identity theft crimes are higher than you think. In 2015, a lead data scientist at Verizon estimated that up to 80% of Social Security numbers had already been stolen by cybercriminals.
- After applying for an IP PIN and completing the verification process, you will receive an IP PIN.
- Remember, if your SSN has been breached, so has other personal information.
- Someone illegally using your Social Security number (SSN) and possibly assuming your identity can cause many problems.
- If you’ve confirmed that your SSN is indeed on the dark web (or likely to be) it’s essential to act quickly to mitigate the damage.
- Identity theft and fraud protection for your finances, personal info, and devices.
Steps To Take If Your Social Security Number Is Found On The Dark Web
¹ The score you receive with Aura is provided for educational purposes to help you understand your credit. It is calculated using the information contained in your Equifax credit file. Lenders use many different credit scoring systems, and the score you receive with Aura is not the same score used by lenders to evaluate your credit.
To monitor your account, just sign in and review your statements if you have any. If you know you aren’t receiving any benefits but your account activity indicates you are, this could mean someone stole or bought your SSN from the dark web and is using your identity to receive benefits. For extra security, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts. 2FA requires you to provide an additional verification step (such as a code sent to your phone) to access your account, making it harder for someone to gain unauthorized access. Con artists who get their hands on your Social Security number may try to file a return in your name before you do. To prevent that, apply to the Internal Revenue Service for what’s called an Identity Protection PIN, or IP PIN.
Without having access to your MFA, a cybercriminal will not be able to log in to your accounts if you have enabled it as an extra form of security. The Dark Web is a hidden part of the internet that isn’t accessible using Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Safari. Special software is needed to access the Dark Web which keeps what you do private.
Ben Luthi has worked in financial planning, banking and auto finance, and writes about all aspects of money. His work has appeared in Time, Success, USA Today, Credit Karma, NerdWallet, Wirecutter and more. Here’s a breakdown of what your personal details might go for on underground marketplaces, according to the Dark Web Price Index by Privacy Affairs. Gareth Neumann is a retired Baby Boomer in his early sixties (no one’s allowed to know his actual age!). He still fondly remembers his first job as a store clerk at the tender age of 12, and it was non-stop work since then. Now he’s decided that he’s worked enough to last two lifetimes and finally retired in 2014.
