What Happens If My Ssn Is Stolen – Your Social Security number is one of your most important pieces of personal information, so losing your Social Security card can have consequences.
We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are those of the author. Compensation may be affected by the appearance of offers. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.
What Happens If My Ssn Is Stolen
All About Cookies is an independent advertising supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site come from third-party advertisers from whom All About Cookies receives compensation. This fee may affect how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
Reporting A Stolen Social Security Card
Everything About Cookies does not include every financial or credit offer that may be available to consumers and we do not include every company or every product available. The information is correct as of the date of publication and is not provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, detailed information and reviews to help you, our reader, make confident decisions about online privacy. Here’s what you can expect from us:
Identity theft can have serious consequences, including damage to your credit and loss of funds. Unfortunately, if you lose your Social Security card and the wrong people get their hands on it, it puts you at high risk for identity theft. Here’s why losing your card is such a big deal and what to do if it happens to you, including tips for the best protection against identity theft.
In the United States, almost all legal residents have a Social Security number. This is a unique identification number that many government agencies and private companies rely on.
Mcdonald’s Manager Asks Applicant To Send Social Security Over Text
Social security numbers are listed on the social security card issued by the Social Security Administration. Parents can request a social security number for a newborn child and a card will be sent to that child. Adults can apply for one with appropriate proof of citizenship and identity.
These are just a few of the many ways a Social Security number can be used. As a result, if someone gets hold of your Social Security card and someone gets your number from it, you are at high risk of identity theft.
That person could use your card to steal your benefits, apply for credit on your behalf, file a tax return on your behalf and get a refund, or even apply for a passport.
If you (or your parents) lose your card and don’t know your Social Security number, you may have trouble applying for credit or completing any of the above tasks. Fraudsters could get your Social Security number from your card and use it to steal your identity. And you won’t have a card to show potential employers or others who need to see the card to verify your identity.
Woman, 91, Needs New State Id, Social Security Card But Is Told She Can’t Get Either: Money Matters
If you lose your Social Security card, you should take wise steps to protect your identity and make sure you have a replacement card when you need it. Here’s what you need to do.
You can’t freeze your Social Security number, and if you suspect someone is misusing your number, the Social Security Administration can’t help you. Even if you decide to try to apply for a new number, it usually won’t solve your identity theft problems because the credit reporting agencies and government agencies will still have the old number on file.
However, what you can do is freeze your credit for safety. A credit freeze involves contacting the three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – and telling the credit bureaus not to give access to your credit report.
When identity thieves have your social security number and want to do something with it, such as apply for a loan in your name, they would give your number to potential lenders who would then go and try to check your credit history. If your credit file is frozen, these lenders won’t be able to access your report and likely won’t allow the fraudster to open a line of credit in your name.
Ways To Spot A Fake Social Security Card
If you suspect your Social Security card has been stolen, or if your wallet or purse containing your Social Security card has been stolen, you should contact your local police station and file a report.
The police can investigate the theft and can take action against fraudsters who steal your information. You may also need a police report as proof that your identity has been stolen.
If your Social Security number has been compromised, you can file a fraud alert with the credit reporting agencies. This will notify creditors that they need to take extra steps to verify your identity due to the high risk of a fraudster using your information.
Once you set up a fraud alert, it will last for one year and you can renew it after that. You are also entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major reporting agencies after you submit an alert.
What Can You Do With A Social Security Number
If you are a victim of identity theft, you can also file an extended fraud alert to be placed on your credit report. You will not be eligible if you have filed a report with the FTC at identitytheft.gov and/or if you have filed a police report.
Monitoring your credit report will quickly let you know if someone is misusing your Social Security number to open new credit accounts in your name. You can usually get one free copy per year from each of the major credit reporting agencies at www.annualcreditreport.com. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, credit reporting agencies are offering weekly credit reports online until the end of 2023.
After you receive a copy of your report, you should take a close look at it for anything suspicious. This may include inquiries (requests for information about your creditworthiness) from companies you have never contacted, as well as information about credit accounts you have not opened; unexplained charges on your cards; or other judgments or legal actions against you of which you were not aware.
You can request a replacement Social Security card if your card is lost or stolen. You can fill out the application online or in person, and the card will be sent to you. The Social Security website to request a replacement card is ssa.gov/ssnumber.
It’s Time To End The Social Security Number
You will need to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, as well as a birth certificate or other proof of your birth, such as a hospital record. Proof of identity, such as a driver’s license or passport, is also required.
Parents can also apply for a new Social Security card for a child who has not yet been assigned a Social Security number. The application can be submitted at the hospital after the birth of the child or at the Social Welfare Office. Parents will need to provide proof of citizenship, such as birth certificates, as well as other evidence of eligibility, such as medical records; school or kindergarten records; or adoption decrees.
Identity theft protection services can help you fight identity theft by monitoring your credit and alerting you to anything suspicious. Many identity protection services will also help you deal with the worst case scenario of identity theft. Here is a list of services that offer protection against identity theft:
4.9 Writers and editors evaluate products based on several objective factors as well as our expert editorial judgment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Social Security Number: What Can Someone Do With Your Ssn?
You can open my Social Security account to make sure no one opens an account in your name and gets your information. Your Social Security account will also allow you to track your earnings records to make sure no one is using your Social Security card to work.
Keeping your card at home, in a bank safe or in another safe place can reduce the risk of loss or theft. You should not carry your Social Security card in your purse or wallet unless there is a specific need to have the card with you, such as providing information to an employer after you have been hired.
Avoid giving out access to your card or social security number unless you absolutely have to, and never give out this information unless you’re confident you trust the person or company you’re showing the information to. Always ask why you are required to provide your information and what will happen if you refuse to do so.
You can request that the Social Security Administration block electronic access to your Social Security records if you know that your information has been compromised. To do this, you will need to call 1-800-772-1213. Once you block access, no one can change your personal information online or over the phone – including you.
How To Check If Someone Is Using My Identity
You cannot freeze a Social Security number. You can block access to your
What should i do if my ssn is stolen, what happens if my car is stolen, what to do if ssn is stolen, what happens if my identity is stolen, what happens if someone steals my ssn, what happens if your ssn gets stolen, what if your ssn is stolen, what do i do if my ssn is stolen, what happens when your ssn is stolen, what happens if your ssn is stolen, what happens if ssn is stolen, what do i do if my ssn card is stolen