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What Can Happen If Someone Has Access to Your SSN?
Scammers can use your leaked or stolen Social Security number (SSN) to open new accounts in your name, impersonate you through identity theft, gain illegal employment, or even file fraudulent tax returns in your name.
Cybersecurity researchers confirmed that over 272 million SSNs leaked in the National Public Data breach — nearly 60% of all SSNs ever issued.
If you suspect that your SSN is being used by someone without your permission, immediately freeze your credit, report the crime, and take steps to secure your identity from further abuse.
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What To Do If Someone Has Your SSN
Protecting your credit and reporting the crime are the most time-sensitive steps to take as soon as your SSN is compromised.
Even if you haven’t seen the warning signs of identity theft, following the steps below can help proactively protect you from identity thieves. (It’s almost always a good idea to keep your credit reports frozen when you’re not actively applying for credit).
Note: Recovery can be a time-consuming and complicated process. Make sure to keep detailed notes of your phone calls, emails, and letters along the way.
1. Freeze your credit with all three credit bureaus
If your Social Security number has been compromised, freeze your credit as soon as possible.
Freezing your credit can help stop companies from extending new credit to you — which means that scammers can’t open new accounts or take out loans in your name.
Credit freezes are free. However, you’ll need to contact each of the three major credit bureaus individually — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Remember that you will need to unfreeze your credit in the future if you want to apply for any new line of credit such as a loan, credit card, or mortgage.
Here’s how to contact each of the three credit bureaus to freeze your credit:
For added security, freeze your credit with alternative and subprime credit bureaus and other agencies, such as:
- Innovis: Online or by calling 866-712-0021
- Advanced Resolution Services: Online or by calling 800-392-8911
- ChexSystems: Online
- LexisNexis: Online or by calling 800-456-1244
2. Review your credit reports for signs of fraud
If you didn’t freeze your credit in time, scammers may have already used your SSN to open new credit accounts. Check your credit report for unrecognized accounts, hard inquiries you didn’t request, and incorrect information.
Every American is entitled to free weekly copies of their credit reports from each of the three major credit reporting agencies by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.
Check inquiries, accounts, and personal information across each report, and take notes of any incorrect or unfamiliar activity.
Aura’s credit monitoring service monitors your credit reports with all three bureaus and can alert you in near real-time of suspicious activity, changes to your credit score, or loan requests.
3. Report identity theft and fraud to the FTC
If you’ve discovered evidence of ID theft on your credit report, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Filing an FTC identity theft report is a critical step when disputing fraudulent accounts and getting reimbursed for debts that you didn’t accrue.
Go to IdentityTheft.gov and fill out an identity theft affidavit. The FTC will provide you with a personalized recovery plan to help you navigate the next steps.
📚 Related: Did Someone Use Your SSN To File Taxes? Do This →
4. File a police report with local law enforcement
In some situations, you may also want to report identity theft to your local police department. A police report is necessary if you have any information about the identity thief that could lead to an arrest, or if someone used your SSN to commit a crime (i.e. criminal identity theft).
Many companies will also want to see a police report (along with your FTC report) before they’ll mark accounts as fraudulent.
5. Review your Social Security Statement
Your Social Security Statement is the source for all information about your retirement benefits, disability benefits (if applicable), Medicare information, and your earnings records.
Head to the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s official website at SSA.gov and navigate to the Statement request page.
Sign in by using your my Social Security account, or create a new one and review your Statement to make sure there are no inaccuracies or missing (or extra) earnings. Report any inconsistencies directly to the SSA.
📚 Related: How To Check If Someone Is Using Your SSN →
6. Contact the IRS and explain that you’re the victim of identity theft
Scammers can also use your SSN to file fraudulent taxes or steal your tax return. If you see any signs of tax identity theft, such as having your tax return rejected, call the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) immediately at 1-800-908-4490 or contact them online to learn more about reporting tax fraud and SSN theft.
You may need to file a Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit to prove that you’ve been the victim of identity theft. This can be found and filled out online or printed and attached to your tax return.
For more information, read through the IRS’s Identity Theft Victim assistance guide for taxpayers.
7. Dispute transactions with companies where your SSN was fraudulently used
Any time your SSN is stolen and used for fraudulent activity, it falls on you to reach out to any impacted companies. Most large creditors have fraud hotlines that you can find on their websites to talk directly to specialists who can assist you with this issue. You’ll likely need to share both your FTC affidavit and police report with the company’s fraud team.
Follow up and keep checking your credit reports until the records have been expunged.
📚 Related: What Can Someone Do With Your Social Security Number? →
8. Claim your “my Social Security” account
Your “my Social Security” account allows you to request a new Social Security card if you happen to lose yours — and you can also get personalized benefits estimates, apply for benefits, and more. If you haven’t already, create an account to claim your SSN on the my Social Security website to receive notifications if your SSN is being used for something that you didn’t request.
9. Lock your SSN by using the DHS’s Self Lock
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allows citizens to freeze their own SSNs by using the myE-Verify site. If you haven’t created an account, do it now.
A SSN freeze won’t stop criminals from using your number in all scenarios. However, it generally protects you from employment-related fraud as new employers can check to see whether you’re eligible to work in the United States. If your SSN is locked, scammers won’t be able to use it to gain illegal employment.
Locks last for one year and can be renewed upon expiry. You’ll need to unlock your SSN whenever you apply for a new job or if an employer needs to confirm your authorization to work.
📚 Related: Can You Change Your Social Security Number? →
10. Continue monitoring your SSN and other accounts
Signing up for a Social Security number monitoring service can help put your mind at ease knowing that scammers aren’t using your SSN for illegal or fraudulent acts.
Aura monitors your SSN and over 140 other unique pieces of personal information across millions of data points including internet sites, Dark Web forums, and public records.
If Aura finds your SSN anywhere that it shouldn’t be, you’ll get an alert in near real-time so that you can shut down scammers before they do too much damage.
Aura also monitors your bank and investment accounts, as well as your credit at all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) to protect your finances from fraudsters.
And if the worst should happen, you have access to 24/7 U.S.-based support specialists and are covered for up to $1,000,000 in insurance protection for eligible losses due to identity theft.
Can You Change Your SSN If Yours Is Compromised?
Yes, you can change your SSN — but only in specific situations. These include:
- Ongoing financial fraud due to identity theft
- The threat of harm (i.e., from a stalker using your SSN to find your location)
- Religious or cultural objections to the sequence of numbers on your SSN
- Duplicate SSN numbers
- If your name and SSN are extremely similar to someone else’s
To apply for a new Social Security number altogether, you need to find your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office and request an in-person appointment.
📚 Related: What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen →
How To Protect Your SSN and Identity From Scammers
While there’s already a good chance that your SSN has been leaked in a data breach, it’s still important to proactively protect it — along with your other sensitive information — from scammers.
Here’s what you can do to stay safe:
- Never carry your Social Security card with you. Instead, keep it stored in a secure place at home unless you need to bring it with you for a very specific application.
- Don’t give out your SSN over the phone, in an email, or via text. Requests for your SSN are often signs of a phishing scam. If an application form asks for your SSN, leave it blank or ask if there’s another piece of identification that you can provide instead.
- Shred sensitive mail and documents. Anything that contains sensitive information should be shredded before you throw it out.
- Keep your devices and accounts safe. Follow common best practices, such as using strong and unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), and keeping your devices and apps up to date.
- Sign up for identity protection. Services like Aura monitor your SSN and other sensitive information in places where it appears when you’ve been the victim of identity theft (or are at risk of becoming one) and provide guided support and proactive protection to help you stay safe.
