The idea that someone has stolen your social security number is frightening. Thankfully there are things you can do to lessen the damage if your information does get stolen. For a suspected theft of your social security number, here are some steps to affirm a breach and combat any thieves before they can do anything with it.
Alert the Credit Bureaus
The first thing you should do if your SSN is stolen is alert the three major credit reporting bureaus, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, and allow them to put a fraud report on your account. The fraud report renews every 90 days until the matter is settled, or until you think the issue is resolved.
View Your Social Security Statement
If you are unsure whether or not anything has happened to your record, you can check on the social security statements website. Owned by the government, this site allows you to check your account for any inconsistencies or problems. If there are issues on your account, you can contact the Social Security Administration, where you may be able to get a replacement card or number.
Contact the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) takes identity theft very seriously. This government organization is designed to protect consumers from all sorts of suspicious activities. By filing a fraud alert with the FTC, you can get a customized recovery plan to stop thieves from using your social security number. While it’s up to you to move through the steps of your recovery plan, the FTC walks you through each step to help you understand how to stop fraud and prevent further problems.
Start a Recovery Plan
A stolen social security number can give thieves access to your other information. A recovery plan prevents further damage to your account and gives you the chance to be proactive. IdentityTheft.gov has a step-by-step program that can help you deal with any additional fraud that may have occurred on your account. These steps include things like calling the companies you suspect the fraud occurred under, closing new credit accounts that are in your name, and checking utilities to be sure there aren’t any falsified accounts using your information.
Order a Credit Report
You may already be aware that you can get your credit reports from all three bureaus annually, but this becomes particularly important if you suspect fraud. These reports list every credit card and inquiry in your name. It’s important to comb through these history reports and report anything you think is a suspected fraud. Each bureau has their own process by which they check for falsified accounts and remove them from your reports.
Subscribe to Protection Service
To protect yourself in the future, you can subscribe to an identity theft protection service like LifeLock, Identity Guard, or IdentityForce. These are some of the top companies in the business that offer plans to help keep your identity from falling into the wrong hands. Each business has different plans that can fit your monthly budget, but they all help protect your social security number from identity theft. You can read our overview of LifeLock, Identity Guard, and IdentityForce services to figure out which is right for you.
