Can I lock my SSN online? Yes. Lock your SSN online at E-Verify by turning on the Self Lock feature, and block electronic access to your Social Security information with the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. To initiate an SSN/credit freeze, go to the Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian websites to make a direct request.
Yes. You can add or remove a fraud alert at any time for free on the TransUnion Service Center. We'll also notify Experian and Equifax so they can add an alert to the report they have for you.
Other times, they say your bank account is about to be seized and offer to assist in fraud prevention (often, that involves putting your money on gift cards and giving them the codes, which is a sure sign of a fraud scheme). Here's what you need to know: Your Social Security number cannot be suspended.
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.
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 can call the SSA to lock your SSN. Contact them at 1-800-772-1213, and make sure you have additional proof of your identity when you speak to them. Additional forms of identification could include a driver's license or passport.
You can request a Social Security suspension over the phone (800-722-1213), in writing or in person at your local Social Security office.
Do not routinely carry your SSN. Never say your SSN aloud in public. Beware of phishing scams (emails, internet links, and phone calls) trying to trick you into revealing personal information. Create a personal my Social Security account to help you keep track of your records and identify any suspicious activity.
How to get an IP PIN. The fastest way to receive an IP PIN is to request one through your Online Account. If you don't already have an account on IRS.gov, you must register to validate your identity. Spouses and dependents are eligible for an IP PIN if they can pass the identity verification process.
www.irs.gov/uac/Identity-Protection
or call 1-800-908-4490. File an online complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. The IC3 gives victims of cybercrime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations.
If you believe someone is defrauding social security disability, you should file a report with the SSA immediately. Reports can be filed online with the Office of the Inspector General, or you can call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271. You can choose to file a confidential or anonymous report.
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.
People generally cannot voluntarily withdraw or stop participating in the Social Security program. You must pay Social Security taxes, regardless of you or your employer's citizenship or place of residence.
To sign up for Self Lock and freeze your SSN:
Go to myE-Verify and follow the prompts to create an account. myE-Verify will email you a link to start the application. After you create the account, you'll take a short Identity Proofing quiz.
Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.
Thing is, Social Security numbers do not get suspended. This is just a variation of a government imposter scam that's after your SSN, bank account number, or other personal information. In this variation of the scheme, the caller pretends to be protecting you from a scam while he's trying to lure you into one.
Identity thieves who get their hands on your SSN can use it to get a job in your name, rack up credit card debt against your credit score and to steal your tax refund. To stop cybercriminals in their tracks, you may want to lock your Social Security number.
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).
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.
Can Someone Open a Credit Card or Bank Account in Your Name? Yes. Scammers can use your stolen information to open credit cards, bank accounts, or even take out loans in your name — leaving you to pick up the pieces and dispute the debts. In 2023 alone, scammers opened over 381,000 fraudulent credit card accounts [*].