Identity thieves can open phone, electricity, water, and other utility accounts, accruing charges in your name and damaging your credit. Like a credit freeze, a utility security freeze restricts access to your utility account information. This helps prevent identity thieves from opening new utility accounts in your name and racking up charges you may end up being responsible for. There’s a central organization called the National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE) that manages utility security freezes. If you believe your personal info has ended up on the dark web — for example, as a result of a data breach or a phishing scam — you should act right away to protect your finances. Although they purport to do the same thing, a credit lock is not the same as a freeze.
- It now appears that the hacker group USDoD snatched about 2.9 billion of its records.
- 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.
- Even if you haven’t noticed any signs of identity theft, if your SSN has been exposed, it’s pretty much a matter of time.
- Information security company McAfee reported that it hasn’t found any filings with state attorneys general.
- Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your credit report.
Step 4: Consider A Credit Freeze
Signing up for a credit monitoring service can help you keep your identify safe, while giving you peace of mind. Next, you should lock your SSN by either contacting the Social Security Administration (SSA) or self-locking it using your E-Verify account. Locking your SSN is necessary when your SSN is on the dark web because it prevents anyone, including you, from changing or accessing your Social Security record. This way, if a cybercriminal sells your SSN to other cybercriminals, no one will be able to use your SSN to commit fraud or identity theft. Check your email to see if you received a message from a company with which you have an account regarding a data breach. Companies typically send letters or notifications to their customers whose Personally Identifiable Information (PII) was exposed during a data breach.
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Ramifications range from debt collections and financial fines to arrest warrants and criminal records in connection to the person whose personal information was misused. The exposure of your Social Security Number on the dark web isn’t just a breach of your privacy—it can have far-reaching consequences that affect your financial stability, credit history, and personal life. Knowing the potential impacts can help you grasp the seriousness of the situation and the importance of taking swift, corrective action. Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try to protect your identity, a cybercriminal may still successfully open an account under your name. ¹ The score you receive with Aura is provided for educational purposes to help you understand your credit.
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- Certain cyber groups have set up websites to enable individuals to search to see if their personal data was affected by the breach, Lee said.
- You can freeze and unfreeze your credit report for free, but you’ll need to contact each credit bureau separately to implement the freeze.
- Install antivirus software, enable firewalls, and avoid using public Wi-Fi for accessing sensitive accounts.
- As you freeze your credit, be extra vigilant that you are on the legitimate websites of the credit bureaus, and not look-alike sites aimed at stealing your personal information.
- To monitor your account, just sign in and review your statements if you have any.
- Your card will be charged either a monthly or annual fee, depending on the membership plan you choose.
Criminals can use stolen Social Security numbers to submit false health insurance claims, illegally obtain medical insurance funds, or steal prescription medication. Medical identity theft makes it difficult for affected parties to receive healthcare, claim payouts, or sign up for new medical services. Every American is entitled to a complementary copy of their credit report annually. You should review your credit report every year so you can spot any suspicious activity that you didn’t initiate, such as new accounts or lines of credit.
Huge Data Breach Involving Social Security Numbers Could Impact Millions Of Americans
By combining a credit freeze with regular monitoring and other security measures, you take proactive steps to protect your financial well-being and personal information. Although you should regularly monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity, you should review your credit reports – especially if you believe your SSN has been compromised. Your credit report will include PII, credit card account information, loans in your name and credit inquiries. You can request a copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.
Best Identity Theft Protection
For added security and peace of mind, sign up for Identity Guard today. Identity Guard monitors your most sensitive data — from your SSN to your bank account — and alerts you to any suspicious activity. If the worst should happen, you’ll be covered by Identity Guard’s White Glove Fraud Resolution support and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. If your SSN has been compromised, it’s only a matter of time before your identity is stolen. Signing up for an identity theft protection service is one of the best ways to find out if your sensitive data is on the dark web.
However, they will need to prove actual harm came from this specific data breach, Lee said. Because there have been so many data breaches, it can be difficult to tie a specific piece of data to this one event, he said. Additionally, identity theft monitoring tools will let you know if someone tries to open an account using your personal information. You may have never heard of National Public Data, yet your personal information may have been compromised in the company’s recent massive data breach. Offer pros and cons are determined by our editorial team, based on independent research.
Bank Security Freeze
Beware of sharing personal information (birth dates, address, phone number, etc.) on social media. Consider limiting your audience to people you know and trust, Velasquez says. “Should bad actors gain access to this cloud environment, Americans may be susceptible to widespread identity theft, may lose vital healthcare and food benefits,” the complaint reads. Additionally, you might be able to use a password manager to create a passkey for your accounts. Sites like National Public Data may allow for individuals to opt out of being included in their data collections. However, because there are so many data brokers, it can be time consuming for consumers to contact each one, Steinhauer said.
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You can freeze and unfreeze your credit report for free, but you’ll need to contact each credit bureau separately to implement the freeze. Your Social Security Number is a key to many aspects of your life—financial, medical, and personal. The discovery of your SSN on the Dark Web can be alarming and can open the door to various forms of identity theft and fraud. In recent times, data breaches have become more common, leaking sensitive information like SSNs onto parts of the internet where criminals can easily access and misuse them.
Your SSN qualifies as PII, but PII can also include your name, birthday, driver’s license number, bank account information or medical records. If you receive an email or notification from a company with whom you have an account that your SSN was compromised, your SSN may be on the dark web. Credit freezes always sound good in theory, but they can be a time-consuming hassle to manage.
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If you are not receiving any benefits, your mySocialSecurity account will show proof of this. To monitor your account, just sign in and review your statements if you have any. If you know you aren’t receiving any benefits but your account activity indicates you are, this could mean someone stole or bought your SSN from the dark web and is using your identity to receive benefits. You may be concerned if your Social Security number (SSN) was found on the dark web following the recent breach that, according to CNBC, exposed almost three billion SSNs.
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. Promptly report any suspicious activity to your financial institutions. When there’s a fraud alert on your report, creditors can see that you might be the victim of identity theft and are instructed to verify your identity or contact you before extending credit in your name. Due to the prevalence of data breaches and other cyber threats, SSNs are a highly sought after commodity on the dark web.
