When your SSN and other personal information is leaked on the Dark Web, cybercriminals may use those details to steal your identity. They could go as far as getting a job in your name. Commit tax fraud. Scammers can use your SSN to file fraudulent tax returns and commit other tax crimes.
Discover's SSN, Inquiry & New Account Alerts differ in that they keep you informed of any new inquiries or accounts opened on your Experian credit report or if your Social Security number is found on one of the thousands of Dark Web sites that we monitor, which may signal an increased exposure to identity theft.
Info on the dark web doesn't show up in your run-of-the-mill search engines. Users need special software and authorization to access it. If you receive a dark web alert, it means your personal information was exposed, which can make it easier for others to open accounts in your name.
If personal info such as your SSN, address, and date of birth are found on the dark web, someone else can use them to take out credit in your name. Tip: Only accounts with a US billing method can add a Social Security Number to their monitoring profile.
You can check to see if and what information is out there with a free dark web scan. And while there might not be a simple way to get your information removed from the dark web, you can take measures to protect your accounts and identity.
Your personal information could have ended up on the dark web through a data breach, a compromised account, a phishing scam or a malware infection. The dark web is part of the internet used by cybercriminals to buy and sell stolen 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.
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).
We would generally advise against browsing the dark web, as even if you have good intentions, it's easy to stray off the beaten path, and suddenly encounter illegal materials, sites or malware.
If someone has misused your SSN or other personal information to create credit or other problems for you, there are several things you can do. or call 1-800-908-4490. File an online complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.
Your phone number might end up on the dark web through data breaches from websites or companies where you've shared your contact details, often due to weak security or cyberattacks.
An SSN trace, also known as as Social Security background check, returns information related to a Social Security number. This information can include when and where the SSN was issued, as well as any associated names like aliases and maiden names.
Illegal Uses of the Dark Web
Given its anonymous nature, the dark web is also used for illicit and even illegal purposes. These include the buying and selling of illegal drugs, weapons, passwords, and stolen identities, as well as the trading of illegal pornography and other potentially harmful materials.
Breach Details
According to National Public Data, a malicious actor gained access to their systems in December 2023 and leaked sensitive data onto the dark web from April 2024 to the summer of 2024. This data contained the following details: Full names. Social Security Numbers.
If your email address is found on the dark web, it often indicates that it's been compromised in a data breach and is now accessible to cybercriminals.
Once your SSN has been found on the dark web, you should report it as stolen to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Notifying the FTC will result in receiving personalized steps based on your situation.
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.
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.
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.
Social Security Number Services are Always Free.
Cybersecurity firm Pentester has launched a tool online for you to see if you were part of the breach. Go to npd.pentester.com, then enter your first and last name and birth year for a list of breached accounts, including the last four digits of the leaked Social Security numbers.
If your personal data, like your name, phone number or email address, is on the dark web, you'll be more vulnerable to identity theft and online scams.
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.
Luckily, you can use a dark web scan tool to determine if your credentials are on the dark web. To use Keeper's free dark web scan tool, all you need to do is provide your email address. From there, the dark web scan tool will search its database with billions of breached login credentials to search for a match.