What to Do if Your Social Security Number Is Stolen

1. Report the Identity Theft to the FTC and Police

Once someone has their hands on your Social Security number, they can use it in all sorts of fraudulent ways. That might include:

• Filing a tax return in your name and collecting your refund
• Applying for unemployment payments or government benefits in your name
• Using your Social Security number and other personal data to apply for credit and rack up debt

How to Report Identity Theft to the FTC

If you find out your Social Security number has been stolen, or exposed in a data breach, the first thing to do is report it to the FTC. You can do that at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC will use the information you provide to create a personal recovery plan. Consider this your roadmap to getting on the other side of identity theft.

When to Notify the Police

You can also file a police report. If you take this route, bring along a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report, a government-issued photo ID, proof of address and any evidence you have of theft. Reporting it to the police might make sense if you know who committed the identity fraud and can provide helpful information to law enforcement. It can also help clear your name if your identity was used fraudulently in an encounter with the police.

2. Request a Credit Freeze or Fraud Alert

Protecting your credit is always important, but even more so if your Social Security number has been stolen. You have the right to take one or both of two specific steps to do this:

• Set up a credit freeze. This restricts access to your credit report. So if a scam artist tries to open a new account in your name, the lender or credit card company won't be able to process the application. A credit freeze will not affect your credit score, but you'll need to set it up with each individual credit bureau (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax). You can freeze and unfreeze your credit report at any time.
• Initiate a fraud alert. Instead of restricting access to your credit report, a fraud alert requires creditors to verify your identity before approving new accounts in your name. That extra step can block fraudsters from getting approved.

Having said that, here's how to freeze your credit with each of the three credit bureaus:

To place a fraud alert with Experian, simply visit the Experian Fraud Alert Center, select the type of alert you need, then specify how long you want it to last. A temporary fraud alert will last for one year unless you renew it. An extended fraud alert, which is designed for victims of identity fraud, lasts seven years. You can remove a fraud alert at any time.

3. Contact Companies Where Your Social Security Number Has Been Used Fraudulently

The companies you'll need to reach out to will depend on the type of identity theft. Below are some organizations you might need to contact:

• New creditors: If someone used your Social Security number to open a credit card or loan in your name, you'll want to contact the creditor and explain what happened. They can shut down the account to prevent scammers from doing more damage.
• Existing creditors: You have the right to dispute fraudulent charges if an unauthorized person accumulates debt in your name. That can happen if a con artist uses your credit card without your consent.
• Government agencies: You may need to contact the Social Security Administration, IRS, department of motor vehicles or other government agency if your Social Security number was used to create fraudulent identification records.
• Medical providers: Someone can use your Social Security number or insurance information to receive medical care in your name. That could lead to unwanted medical bills that need to be resolved.

How to Protect Your Social Security Number

While cleaning up the mess caused by identity theft, don't forget to look to the future. The best way to prevent fraud is to keep your Social Security number safe. If identity theft does happen, the sooner you catch it, the better so you can minimize impact to your credit and finances.

Here are some tips to protect your Social Security number:

• Check your credit report for suspicious activity at least once a year. You can get your credit report for free from Experian and through AnnualCreditReport.com.
• Periodically review your Social Security statements for fraudulent activity.
• Don't carry your Social Security card with you or store your SSN in your phone.
• Don't share your SSN unless you've verified the recipient, such as a lender or insurance provider.
• Shred documents that contain your SSN or other personal information.
• Use strong passwords and multifactor authentication to protect sensitive online documents.
• Don't do your banking or access personal information while using public Wi-Fi.
• Use a privacy scan service to remove your information from public websites.
• Consider an identity protection service, such as what's available with a paid Experian premium membership.

Learn more >> What You Can Do to Avoid Identity and Credit Fraud

The Bottom Line

Identity theft can take a financial toll and cause emotional stress to boot. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Do your best to safeguard your personal information. If a breach does happen, there are steps you can take to restore your good name—and credit.