Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. Scammers use your Social Security number (SSN) to get other personal information about you. They can use your SSN and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name.
A thief with an SSN can open credit accounts, file fraudulent tax returns, or use it for medical services and utility accounts. They might monitor your mail or later change the address with issuers to intercept cards. Watch for unauthorized loans, medical claims, or new accounts tied to her SSN.
In 2023, Social Security numbers were exposed in 69% of all data breaches, up 60% from 2022 [*]. If criminals manage to compromise your SSN, they could open bank accounts, obtain credit cards, access medical care, and claim tax returns.
If you think someone may be using your SSN to work, check your Social Security Personal Earnings and Benefit Statement. You can get a copy by calling 1-800-772-1213, or online at www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-7004.pdf.
An SSN Trace is an essential tool for helping locate criminal records and is a dependable resource for expanding the scope of a background check to include locations where a person has lived and other names they may have used.
In addition to Social Security, the SSN is now also used for a wide range of purposes. These include obtaining credit, opening a bank account, obtaining government benefits or private insurance, and buying a home or a car.
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.
Many businesses ask for your SSN because it is a convenient way to identify you in their system. As a result, your social security number can now reveal all kinds of information about you, including places you've lived, your credit history, and maybe even medical conditions.
If an attacker gets access to your Social Security number, they can impersonate you, especially if they also know your name, date of birth, or, worse yet, both. The damage an identity thief can do with this information is potentially limitless if you don't catch it in time.
The most misused SSN of all time was (078-05-1120). In 1938, wallet manufacturer the E. H. Ferree company in Lockport, New York decided to promote its product by showing how a Social Security card would fit into its wallets.
For your loan application, you will also need: Your Social Security Number or Business EIN Number. A U.S. government-issued photo ID (e.g. Driver's License, Passport, State or Military ID) A credit or debit card, U.S. checking or savings account to fund your new account, or cash if opening at a branch.
Self Lock helps protect you from employment-related identity fraud. Self Lock is the unique feature that lets you protect your identity in E-Verify and Self Check by placing a "lock" in E-Verify on your Social Security number (SSN). This helps prevent anyone else from using your SSN for an E-Verify case.
The Social Security Administration does allow you to change your number, but only under limited circumstances, such as identity theft or if your safety is in danger. You will also need to supply appropriate documentation to support your application for a new number.
Once requested, any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security record is blocked. No one, including you, will be able to see or change your personal information on the internet or through our automated telephone service.
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).
Each time an individual divulges his or her SSN, the potential for a thief to illegitimately gain access to bank accounts, credit cards, driving records, tax and employment histories and other private information increases.
Can I purchase a home using an ITIN number in California? Yes, you can purchase a home in California using your ITIN number. ITIN loans are designed for borrowers without Social Security numbers. If you have an SSN, you can't purchase a home using an ITIN number in California.
No. Banks assign account numbers. You can have only only one social security number but multiple bank accounts.
An SSN is used to track an individual's yearly earnings and the number of years they've worked. These figures are required to compute potential financial benefits, whether they relate to retirement income, disability income, or health insurance.
Even though SSNs are the most reliable identifier for an individual, they are not 100 percent dependable because some records may not contain a subject's SSN. Therefore, a record for an individual may not appear when searching using SSN only. Conducting a second search using Name and State provides additional coverage.
Footnote: It is true that the application form for an SSN asks for identfying information, such as date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, and (optionally) the applicant's race. But none of this identifying information is encoded in the SSN itself--not the person's date of birth, place of birth, or race.