Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Show With identity theft, the truth can seem weirder than fiction. Case in point: A man answered his door to find the police there to arrest him on multiple charges for crimes he didn’t commit. After a lot of hassle and confusion, he learned the police showed up because his stolen Social Security number had been used by a real criminal—who was out on bond but disappeared and missed a court date. This kind of criminal identity theft happens, though it’s extreme. Fraudsters who secure your SSN are more likely to use that nine-digit identifier to take out a loan or open a credit card account in your name. Either way, it’s very difficult to control your Social Security number in the wild. Social Security Numbers Are Fraud GoldSocial Security numbers are often used to commit identity theft, which defrauded 51,600 victims out of $278 million during 2021, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. For too many of us, our SSNs are already in the hands of miscreants, along with our other intimate details. For the price of a cup of coffee and a bagel—sets of personal records go for as little as $5 each on the dark web—a scammer can use your identity for personal gain. The most common scams involving Social Security numbers include:
Fraudsters (or feckless family members) can establish and destroy your credit with the right information. Sometimes this means carrying out synthetic identity fraud using your SSN with a falsified name and address. 8 Steps You Can Take To Prevent FraudI’ve written previously about how to reduce your risk of identity theft using the firsthand information I’ve been privy to as a senior fellow for threat research at Agari by HelpSystems. It’s critical to protect your SSN. The Social Security Administration will rarely give you a new number, even if yours has been compromised. Your goal in safeguarding your SSN is to limit its exposure as much as possible while increasing your awareness of how it’s used. Here are a few tips:
What To Do If You Suspect FraudIf you think your Social Security number has been used fraudulently, call the Federal Trade Commission at 877-438-4338, or file a report with the agency online. You can also reach the fraud hotline for Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General at 800-269-0271, or submit a report to that office online. The Social Security Administration also offers the ability to block electronic access to your number. It could be a good option if you need to lock down your account following a fraud incident. Call 800-772-1213 to request a block. You could always protect yourself from ID fraud by having such bad credit that no one wants to steal your identity, but that’s probably not in your best financial interest. Staying vigilant and implementing these protections is the way to go. What can be done with a Social Security number?A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, when they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, it damages your credit.
How do you commit identity theft?Learn 11 of the most common ways of identity theft can happen.. Phishing. Scammers often use phishing emails to trick victims into providing personal or financial information. ... . Smishing. ... . Vishing. ... . Fake Websites. ... . Impersonation Scams or Confidence Fraud. ... . Data Breaches. ... . Skimming. ... . Public Wi-Fi and USB Charging Stations.. What can someone do with last 4 digits of SSN?As long as a hacker or scammer has access to other personal information such as your name and address, they can use the last four digits of your SSN (in most cases) to open accounts in your name, steal your money and government benefits, or even get healthcare and tax refunds in your name.
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