If a scammer has the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN), immediately freeze your credit with the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). File a report at IdentityTheft.gov, monitor bank accounts for unauthorized activity, and set up 2FA/PINs on sensitive accounts, as this info can be used to bypass security checks.
12 Steps To Take If Scammers Have Your SSN
Get help for identity theft
If someone has used your SSN to open a new account or make a purchase: Report it at IdentityTheft.gov and find out what to do next, including obtaining an FTC Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan.
Lock Your Social Security Number
To block electronic access to your SSN, call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213. Once you've made your request, any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security file is blocked.
Identity thieves can exploit the last four digits of your SSN using automated tools to test these combinations, as well as trial and error methods. With the area and group numbers potentially accessible through public information, the last four digits become a critical piece of the puzzle for identity thieves.
Banking and credit card processing rules say that we need to verify the identity of individuals who ask us to set up payment accounts on behalf of a legal entity (Know Your Customer (KYC) rules). The last 4 digit of your social security number is one of the data elements we can use to verify your identity.
Sometimes people will ask for the last four digits of your Social Security number. Be sure to keep those numbers safe because they're unique to you. Dishonest people can find out the other numbers in your Social Security number, but not the last four. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
If You Gave a Scammer Your Personal Information
Go to IdentityTheft.gov to see what steps to take, including how to monitor your credit. Did you give a scammer your username and password? Create a new, strong password. If you use the same password anywhere else, change it there, too.
How identity theft happens
The final four digits of your Social Security number comprise the serial number. These digits ran consecutively from 0001 to 9999 within each group, providing unique identifiers for individuals receiving SSNs within the same area and group combination.
Place or lift a credit freeze
Freeze or lift the freeze on your credit report for free by contacting each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax. Experian. TransUnion.
Absolutely not. As the others have said sending your full SSN in an unencrypted E-mail is a bad idea, I would recommend you call and give your Information.
Locking your SSN is one of the best ways to protect yourself from identity theft, and you can do it for free.
An extended fraud alert can be placed if you are a victim of fraud or identity theft. It requires a copy of a valid police or law enforcement agency report, or a Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Report, and lasts for 7 years.
There's no cost to place or lift a credit freeze, and it doesn't affect your credit score. You don't have to wait for your Social Security number or other information to be exposed in a data breach or misused by an identity thief to get a credit freeze. Anyone can do it, any time.
Unfortunately, yes. Many banks, government agencies, and other financial institutions only ask for the last four digits to confirm your identity. With those four digits, plus a bit more of your personal information, scammers could open accounts, access your bank, or apply for benefits in your name.
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). Once requested, any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security record is blocked.