You should review your bank account statements regularly; if you see unknown purchases, that could be a sign that your identity has been stolen. Check credit reports. Similarly, monitor your credit reports from all three credit-reporting bureaus for any unknown accounts or inaccurate information.
Identity Theft: If you think an identity thief is using your SSN to work or to collect benefits, call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. If you think someone may be using your SSN to work, check your Social Security Personal Earnings and Benefit Statement.
Call or email the fraud department of the companies, banks or credit unions where accounts have been compromised. Explain that someone stole your identity and ask them to close or freeze the compromised account.
Someone may have filed a tax return using your SSN if it was found on the dark web, which could have triggered a notice from the IRS. Contact the IRS immediately if you think or know you are a victim of identity theft.
There is NO COST to place or lift a security freeze. For more information, see detailed instructions entitled “Placing a Security Freeze on Your Credit Report to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft” below. 5. Review your credit reports carefully.
You'll know that another person filed a tax return in your name if you try to file and the IRS rejects your return. The IRS will explain in the rejection that a return associated with your Social Security Number has already been filed. Why would someone do this? In extremely rare cases, it could be accidental.
You may not find out that someone is using your SSN until you're turned down for credit, or you begin to get calls from unknown creditors demanding payment for items you never bought. We protect your SSN and keep your records confidential. We don't give your number to anyone, except when authorized by law.
Conduct regular credit checks to verify whether someone has applied for credit using your personal information and if so, advise the credit grantor immediately. Investigate and register for credit related alerts offered by credit bureaus. Check your bank statements regularly.
Report the Fraud to the Three Major Credit Bureaus
The automated system allows you to flag your file with a fraud alert at all three bureaus. This helps stop a thief from opening new accounts in your name. The alert stays on for 90 days.
These are some warning signs that someone may have stolen your identity: You notice unusual activity on your bank statements or credit history report. Your identity documents are missing, such as your passport or driver licence. You stop getting mail at your address.
If your identity has been used to gain employment, you may receive a notification from the Social Security Administration (SSA) stating that your benefits have been adjusted or denied. You may also receive a notice from the SSA showing higher earnings than you expected.
It's a good idea to check your report annually. You can do this by requesting your free statutory credit report, or by signing up to CreditExpert. This will let you see if there's anything you don't recognise. If there is, we can help you query it with the lender.
For example, you can compare their name, date of birth, address, or email with public records, databases, or directories. You can also look for their online presence on other platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook, and see if their profile, activity, and network are consistent with their identity.
If scammers file taxes using your SSN before you do, the IRS will inform you that your legitimate tax return was denied due to a duplicate SSN. You receive a Letter 5071C from the IRS. The IRS sends this fraud alert notice if they see signs of identity theft on your return.
If so, you need to know the IRS is prohibited from telling you who claimed your dependent(s). Due to federal privacy laws, the IRS can only disclose the return information if the victim's name and SSN are listed as either the primary or secondary taxpayer on the fraudulent return.
Next tax year: Protect your dependent with an IP-PIN (Identity Protection - Personal Identification Number). This will prevent any unauthorized person (ex-spouse, partner, family member) from e-filing a tax return and claiming your qualified dependent.
Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-4490 or visit them online, if you believe someone is using your SSN to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes. Order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).
Go to the website of any of the three major credit bureaus and select that you want to add a fraud alert. Note: You only need to do it at one credit bureau. Once you place the fraud alert at any of the three bureaus, they automatically notify the other two.
Check your credit reports and bank statements
If fraudsters are using your stolen SSN, it will most likely show up on your credit reports and bank or credit card statements. If your SSN has been leaked, you'll want to keep a close eye on your financial accounts.
Can I remove my information from the Dark Web? No. Because of the anonymous nature of the dark web, there is no way to search and find all possible organizations with your personal information or to hold anyone accountable for removing it.
The bad news is that once your SSN has been leaked to the Dark Web, it's virtually impossible for you to remove it. Instead, the best thing you can do is to proactively lock down your identity and accounts and be prepared for the worst.