However, your SSN can also be compromised by malware lurking on your computer, fake forms on unsafe websites, through mail theft, or if you lose your wallet and it falls into the wrong hands. However, discovering that your SSN is on the dark web means you can take steps to protect against identity theft. And, in rare cases where you’re unable to protect yourself and are experiencing significant issues resulting from SSN exposure, you may qualify for a new Social Security number. Once you’ve updated your passwords, you should enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on each of your accounts. This will require anyone trying to sign in to your accounts to have not only your username and password but also an additional form of authentication.
Freeze Your Credit
You’ll need to request a credit freeze from each of the three major credit bureaus individually — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. They will each ask for personal data and provide a secret PIN to freeze or “thaw” your file when needed. You’ve likely never heard of National Public Data, the company that makes its money by collecting and selling access to your personal data to credit card companies, employers, and private investigators. It now appears that the hacker group USDoD snatched about 2.9 billion of its records. Odds are that your records — including, possibly, your Social Security number (SSN) — are in those databases.
After finding out your SSN is on the dark web, you should immediately take action and follow the steps above to protect your identity and private accounts. To keep your information safe, you should use a password manager that can update your passwords with strong, unique ones and scan the dark web. Once your SSN has been found on the dark web, you should report it as stolen to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Is It Worthwhile To Pay For Extra Protection?
- Always stay informed about cybersecurity best practices to protect your personal information.
- If you’ve found that your SSN has been used to set up new accounts, you’ll have to track down and contact each company in question to notify them of the fraud.
- It requires that you input your first name, last name, year of birth, and what states you’ve lived in.
- Other reports suggest the amount of records leaked may have been more than 2.7 billion.
- Offer pros and cons are determined by our editorial team, based on independent research.
A credit freeze prevents anyone from accessing your credit file — which means that scammers won’t be able to ruin your credit score. Regularly reviewing your financial statements, like bank accounts and credit cards, is essential to detect unauthorized activity. Look for unfamiliar transactions, new accounts, or changes to existing ones.
How To Know If Your SSN Has Been Leaked On The Dark Web
The Dark Web is a hidden part of the internet that’s only accessible through special browsers, such as the TOR browser. Even when they are shut down, such as when the FBI took down the SSNDOB Dark Web marketplace, criminals can simply re-upload the information to another site. If it happens to you, reach out to the agency and explain the situation. You may need to complete IRS Form 14039, the Identity Theft Affidavit, to officially report the incident. Note that if you created a Social Security username more than 3 years ago, you’ll need to create a Login.gov account or use an ID.me account. Using your compromised SSN is one of the easiest ways for someone to steal your identity — and you won’t always be able to stop them.
Social security information is often used for financial fraud, particularly related to insurance and credit cards. Suspicious banking activity is one of the first signs that something might be up. Cybercriminals can use your personal information to take out loans in your name, claim your tax returns, or open new credit cards. Since they obfuscate their activities using your name, this digital footprint would be tracked to you. If fraudsters are using your stolen SSN, it will most likely show up on your credit reports and bank or credit card statements. If your SSN has been leaked, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your financial accounts.
Social Security’s Top 5 Data Privacy Resources
- Sign up for a free, 14-day Aura trial to be alerted in near real-time if someone uses your SSN or if any unauthorized activity is detected on your financial accounts.
- The best thing you can do is to proactively lock down your identity and accounts and be prepared for the worst.
- If your child’s phone number was found somewhere on the internet, there is little you can do to combat the issue except change their phone number and remain vigilant against phone scams.
- Remember, taking immediate action is crucial when your SSN is on the dark web.
To implement a credit freeze, you must contact each of the three credit bureaus individually (online, phone, or mail). Both fraud alerts and credit freezes are free to place and do not negatively impact your credit score. A credit freeze significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized accounts being opened in your name. However, it’s important to note that it does not prevent all forms of identity theft or fraud.
Was Your SSN Found On The Dark Web? Do This
If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, you can also place an extended fraud alert on your credit file, which lasts for seven years. To place a fraud alert, you’ll need to contact one of the nationwide credit reporting companies and provide proof of your identity, such as a copy of your driver’s license or passport. Next, you’ll want to file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The dark web might seem like a mysterious place, but it’s relatively simple to safeguard against the risks of your sensitive information leaking there.
Top 7 Self-Defense Tools For Enhanced Personal Security
Criminals often use stolen SSNs to file fraudulent tax returns and claim refunds. The dark web—a hidden part of the internet accessible only through specialized software—is a marketplace for stolen personal information, including SSNs, credit card details, and account credentials. You can change your SSN but the SSA only allows this under specific circumstances. Changing your SSN can cause problems with your credit report and make applying for legal documents such as passports more difficult. Instead, in most cases, it’s best to take steps to mitigate the consequences of a stolen SSN.
Sign Up For Identity Theft Protection
You can request a copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com. When reviewing your credit reports, look for any unfamiliar activity, including new lines of credit or loans in your name that you didn’t request. If you find anything suspicious, it could be a sign that your SSN was compromised and used to commit identity theft. When your Social Security number is available on the dark web, it gives cybercriminals the ability to open credit accounts in your name.
Hacker Offers To Sell 158 Million Plain-Text PayPal Credentials On Dark Web Forum
Ben Luthi has worked in financial planning, banking and auto finance, and writes about all aspects of money. His work has appeared in Time, Success, USA Today, Credit Karma, NerdWallet, Wirecutter and more. Here’s a breakdown of what your personal details might go for on underground marketplaces, according to the Dark Web Price Index by Privacy Affairs. Now that we understand the gravity of the situation, let’s explore the steps you should take to protect yourself. Before delving into the action steps, it’s important to understand the dark web and why finding your SSN there is cause for concern. If you find you’re included in the breach, the steps you should take are not necessarily new.
If a scammer has already used your SSN to open new accounts, contact the companies immediately. For example, if someone has used your SSN to take out a mortgage, notify the lender or financial institution as soon as possible to let them know that the application was fraudulent. There’s a site that can tell you if your SSN was leaked from the personal security company Pentester. It requires that you input your first name, last name, year of birth, and what states you’ve lived in. If your SSN was leaked, the site will present you with a chart showing your address in the record and the last two numbers of your SSN. Services like LifeLock or IdentityForce monitor your SSN for misuse and alert you to potential fraud.
