What If Someone Has My Social Security Number

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A stolen Social Security number can cause you a world of problems – whether you’re retired or not.

What If Someone Has My Social Security Number

Your social security number is something you will use often. You may not know about any of them.

Lost Social Security Card

But your social security number is important information. This is the number you must provide when you apply for a job, apply for a loan or file a tax return. If your Social Security number falls into the wrong hands, the consequences can be, unfortunately, very dire.

A criminal who gets hold of your Social Security number can use it to do a lot of bad things. Someone can open a credit card in your name that you don’t know anything about, rack up the money and never pay the bill. Once that happens, your credit score can take a big hit — and you might not be any the wiser until you apply for a new loan or credit card yourself.

A criminal with your Social Security number can also use it to file tax returns for you and steal your tax refund. If you’re old enough to receive Social Security benefits (which happens after you turn 62), someone can sue and steal those benefits from you. All they have to do is transfer that income to an account they manage. It’s very simple.

In some cases, you may be too cautious and still let your Social Security number fall into the wrong hands. For example, if your bank had a data breach, someone could find your Social Security number and use it against you.

How Hard It Is To Get A New Social Security Number

However, you can take some steps to avoid this scenario. First, don’t carry your Social Security card. Also, be careful when giving out this number. And not to give way in an undesirable situation.

In the context of financial fraud, fraudsters have increasingly targeted the elderly in recent years. If someone calls you claiming to be an employee of the Social Security Administration (SSA), hang up. Do not give them your social security number. Likewise, don’t respond to a random email, text, or even letter asking for this information.

One common scam that criminals use on seniors is to call and threaten to collect their Social Security benefits if they don’t comply by answering some basic financial questions. You should know that the SSA will never do that.

That doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from Social Security. This can happen, for example, if you don’t make an effort to pay the IRS when you have a balance. But in this case, you will receive an official letter in the mail with a warning of such a result. You won’t get calls from random people asking you to verify your Social Security number.

When Will I Get My Social Security Card After Adjustment Of Status?

If you have reason to believe that your Social Security number has been stolen, contact the SSA for guidance. What might it look like?

Let’s say you’re trying to sign up for Social Security benefits, only to discover that a benefits program already exists for you. This is something you want to try to be ahead of.

Similarly, let’s say you’ve been receiving monthly Social Security benefits, but suddenly those payments stop. This is a condition for immediate investigation.

Now, if you’ve used your Social Security number for things like opening a new credit card in your name, the SSA can’t help with that. If so, you can go to IdentityTheft.gov to report this activity. This site is administered by the Federal Trade Commission. If you believe your Social Security number is involved in tax fraud, you can contact the IRS.

Two Women Mistakenly Issued The Same Social Security Number, Resulting In Identity Mess

Unfortunately, criminals can do a lot of bad things with a Social Security number. And the consequences of owning one can affect whether you reach retirement age. That’s why it’s so important to do everything you can to protect that number and know what to do if it falls into the wrong hands.

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Invest better with The Motley Fool. Get stock tips, portfolio guides, and more from Motley Fool services. Losing your Social Security card is not a disaster. Then you won’t need to show your card anywhere. It is important to know your social security number.

But what if you lose your Social Security card? If your lost card falls into the hands of fraudsters or cybercriminals, they can obtain your Social Security number and do serious damage.

When Can Employers Ask For Your Social Security Number?

Armed with your Social Security number, criminals can take out loans or open credit card accounts in your name. They can access your online banking or credit card accounts, using your money to buy electronics, expensive meals, hotel stays, and anything else they want.

Some may even use your Social Security number to file income tax returns and tax refunds on your behalf. Others may sell your Social Security number to bidders on the dark web.

The most important thing is to help protect yourself from potential identity theft. Yes, you can order a replacement card, but your priority should be to prevent criminals from using your Social Security number to wreak havoc on your financial life.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent the damage thieves can do even if they steal your Social Security number.

How To Get A Social Security Number In Spain

Filing a fraud alert with the three national credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — encourages lenders and creditors to take extra steps to make sure you’re applying for a new loan or credit card and not who you say you are. it’s you

For example, if someone applies for a new credit card on your behalf, the credit card company may call you at the number you provided. Then you will be able to find out if you applied for the card or if someone fraudulently tried to open an account in your name.

You only need to call one of the three credit bureaus and the bureau will contact the other two. Your fraud alert will be added to your credit file for one year. You have the option to renew the alert after the annual period ends.

Best of all, the cheat sheet is free to download. You can contact the following bureaus to alert your credit documents:

Data Breach Crisis: Taking Social Security Numbers Public Could Fix It

You want to recognize the signs of identity theft as early as possible. If you’ve lost your Social Security card, you should order copies of your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, each backed by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

You are usually allowed to order one free report from each office each year. Due to the economic uncertainty following COVID-19, you can order a free report from each company every week. This makes it even easier to monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity.

After you receive your statements, check them for any credit card accounts or loans you didn’t open. External accounts on your credit reports are a sign that someone is using your identity.

It’s important to check your online banking and credit card accounts for suspicious purchases or large withdrawals, as criminals could use your Social Security number to access these accounts. If you’re particularly concerned about identity theft, consider checking your online accounts daily for suspicious activity.

Blank Social Security Card Template

If you notice anything unusual about your credit reports, bank accounts or credit card accounts, contact the bank, financial institution or lender associated with those accounts.

Explain that you recently lost your Social Security card and suspect that a criminal is using your Social Security number to make purchases in your name, obtain fraudulent loans, or open credit card accounts using your information.

Remember that you are not responsible for these fraudulent purchases, but you should report them. Ask your bank or credit card provider to block your cards and bank accounts to prevent any additional purchases or withdrawals.

Another thing you’ll want to do if you lose your Social Security card is change the passwords on your online accounts. You want to make it as difficult as possible for thieves to access these accounts, and protecting them with strong passwords is an easy step.

My Great Grandfather’s Social Security Card Was Made Out Of Metal, Not Paper

You can get extra protection against fraudsters by checking your creditworthiness with three credit bureaus. A

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