If you have had your social security number (SSN) stolen before, you’re not the only one. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, each year in the US, there are nearly 160 million identity theft cases, and social security numbers are commonly stolen information. Let us see what hackers can do with SSN.
What do Hackers do With Stolen SSN?
Here are just a few examples of what hackers can do with SSN:
- They can use your number to open fraudulent bank accounts or credit cards in your name.
- A tax return can be filed in your name so you can get your tax refund.
- They can get medical treatment or services using your health insurance information.
It is vital to take immediate action once you think your social security number (SSN) has been compromised.
What Is a Social Security Number?
A Social Security number (SSN) is a nine-digit number issued for identification purposes and is unique to each US citizen, both temporary and permanent working residents. This SSN is used to keep records of contributions made to the Social Security program and also to track citizens’ income.
Information Associated With Social Security Numbers
A Social Security number is like an identity thief’s goldmine because it’s associated with a person’s full name, date of birth, address, and other personal information. This is why it’s so important to protect your Social Security number and to contact the credit bureaus if your number has been compromised.
How Hackers can get possession of Social Security Numbers?
Hackers can get possession of your social security number in various ways. They might steal your wallet or purse, hack into your computer, or even trick you into giving them your information.
Hackers can easily get SSNs by impersonating someone’s identity. They can do this by hacking into government databases, stealing personal information from businesses, or phishing for information on the internet. Your social security number can be used for various activities, like opening credit cards, getting jobs, taking out names, etc.
Activities Hackers Can Do With Social Security Numbers
So questions can arise as to what exactly hackers can do with a social security number. With access to your social security number, a hacker could potentially do any number of things, including:
- Opening new credit cards in your name
- Applying for jobs in your name
- Taking out loans in your name
- Renting or buying property in your name
- Committing tax fraud in your name
How Can You Protect Yourself Against Social Security Number Hackers?
There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from social security number hackers. First, make sure you keep your social security number private and don’t share it with anyone who doesn’t need it. Also, be vigilant about checking your credit report for any suspicious activity and report any charges you don’t recognize right away.
You can also create a unique and hard-to-crack password for all your online accounts through the use of a password manager. Finally, to give you protection from malicious software capable of stealing your personal information, you can install a top-quality antivirus program on your personal computer and keep it updated regularly.
How to Recover From SSN Identity Theft?
Steps to Take After Your Information Has Been Stolen
You can carry out certain steps to recover from a case of identity theft and give you further protection and security assurance if your social security number has been stolen. Listed below are the steps to take in such an event:
- Reach out to credit reporting agencies, all three of them, and put an alert of fraudulent activities on your accounts. Doing this will send warnings to creditors before granting credits in your name that you might be an identity theft victim.
- File a police report. This will help document the crime and may be necessary if you need to take legal action.
- Reach out to your bank and credit card companies so they can freeze your accounts and stop the perpetrator from creating new accounts in your name.
- Reset the passwords and PINs of your online accounts.
- Review your credit report and look for any unfamiliar accounts or charges.
- Keep track of your credit report for the next few years and ensure no further damage is done.
- Keep following the best practices needed to protect your personal online information.
Conclusion
If your Social Security number has been stolen, don’t panic! You can take steps to reduce any possible damage and keep your identity safe. Once your SSN has been stolen by hackers, take actions like filing a report at the police, placing a fraud alert on your files, closing accounts that have been invaded or have been tampered with or opened without your permission or consent, disputing any unauthorized charges or withdrawals on your accounts, request a copy of your credit report from all three major credit reporting agencies, review your credit report for any signs of identity theft and take action to correct them.
