Fraud alerts are free. Contact one of the three nationwide credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian or TransUnion – to request a fraud alert, and that bureau will notify the other two.
If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. You can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).
You can contact the OIG's fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or submit a report online at https://oig.ssa.gov/. If you receive a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from our agency, hang up, and then report details of the call to the OIG at https://oig.ssa.gov/.
You'll get a free alert when we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Not all stolen information from a data breach ends up on these Dark Web sites. If they do, you'll receive an alert. You'll get a free alert when a new credit inquiry appears on your Experian® credit report.
The best way to find out if someone has opened an account in your name is to pull your own credit reports to check. Note that you'll need to pull your credit reports from all three bureaus—Experian, Equifax and TransUnion—to check for fraud since each report may have different information and reporting.
Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, when they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, it damages your credit. ... Someone illegally using your Social Security number and assuming your identity can cause a lot of problems.
Your Social Security number is also used to file your taxes in most cases. Someone who has your SSN can file a fraudulent tax return in your name to be able to claim a refund or stimulus money. You often don't know that a fraudulent tax return has been filed until you go to file your own.
As long as a hacker or scammer has access to other personal information such as your name and address, they can use the last four digits of your SSN (in most cases) to open accounts in your name, steal your money and government benefits, or even get healthcare and tax refunds in your name.
An Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. ... Spouses and dependents are eligible for an IP PIN if they can pass the identity verification process.
The first set of three digits is called the Area Number. The second set of two digits is called the Group Number. The final set of four digits is the Serial Number.
Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money. We may call you in some situations, but will never: Threaten you. Suspend your SSN.
Freezing Your Social Security Number
First, you'll need to create an account on E-Verify, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Once you do, follow the prompts to freeze your SSN. Then, file a police report. Immediately after freezing, contact the authorities.
SSA INVESTIGATIONS STARTS AT THE LOCAL OFFICE
Workers at the local SSA office often talk to claimant's on the phone. They may help you with your application. Or, they may call you to ask about your doctors. ... The SSA will not tell you that you are under investigation.
"Social Security numbers can be associated with multiple individuals, and that individuals can have multiple SSNs associated with them.
Send a dispute letter to each of the credit reporting agencies informing them of the fraudulent accounts opened in your name. Request that the fraudulent accounts be removed from your credit file. In most instances, a credit reporting agency will investigate your complaint within 30 days.
A little-known consumer report can alert you to problems in your banking history. One reason experts urge you to monitor your credit reports is so that you can catch identity thieves who open fraudulent credit card accounts in your name.
Social Security only sends emails or text messages if you have opted in to receive them and only in limited situations, including the following: When you have subscribed with Social Security to receive updates and notifications by text or email.
Look at the first three digits of your SSN. These three digits are called the "Area Number" and are the only part of your SSN that can help identify your birth location.
Although the last four digits of your Social Security number are very freely shared, they are, in fact, the most important part to protect. ... Only the last four digits of your Social Security number are truly random and unique.
Numbers beginning with a “9” may be a Social Security Administration issued Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). An ITIN is a tax processing number issued by the IRS that has 9 digits beginning with the number 9.
If your child is a victim if Identity Theft, you can report that to the IRS and they will mail you a special PIN that is required to file your tax return. Someone that does not have that PIN can not claim your child as a dependent on an e-filed return.
Adults who are claimed as dependents do not get stimulus checks. The person who claimed them also do not get dependent benefits.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows you to potentially reduce your tax by claiming a dependent child on a tax return. ... When both parents claim the child, the IRS will usually allow the claim for the parent that the child lived with the most during the year.