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. If your information is on the dark web and freezing your credit offers you peace of mind, you can do so online at each of the credit bureaus’ websites. If your identity theft protection service tells you an account has been compromised, Wolfe suggests closing the account, or at least changing your password. If a report shows that someone opened a new credit line in your name, it’s highly likely that they did so with a stolen social security number.
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It’s less common for your credit card or government ID info to be openly published on the dark web, he said. If your driver’s license was stolen, that information probably won’t be openly available on the dark web, for your run-of-the-mill identity thief to see. The Work Number is an organization that may have access to your prior employment history. Many lenders use The Work Number to verify your employment and compensation history when you apply for credit. Limiting access to this data is crucial to ensure that your employment history information is not used to obtain a personal or mortgage loan, among other types of credit. A dark web scan indexes collections of stolen data and compares them to your established identity profile to see if your information has been compromised.
With just your Social Security number (SSN), scammers can apply for loans, open bank accounts, and commit crimes — all in your name. Ultimately, the best thing you can do to protect yourself from identity theft is keep your sensitive information private, secure, and off the Dark Web. Keep all records and reports in a safe space, as you may need them while you recover from fraud. Identity theft and fraud protection for your finances, personal info, and devices. The dark web, sometimes called the darknet, is the part of the internet that you can’t find through conventional search engines.
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This adds an extra layer of protection against hackers and data breaches. If you think your Social Security information has been compromised, review your credit reports to check for any fraudulent activity. Beyond credit protection, immediately change passwords for all online accounts, especially financial, email, and social media accounts. Use strong, unique passwords for each account and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.
Contact your service provider and set up a custom PIN that allows you to lock and unlock your SIM so no one else can gain access to your phone number. If you sign up for the Social Security Administration’s myE-Verify website, you can track all the jobs you’ve had in the past (where you used your SSN). Credit locks usually require payment but offer more flexibility as you can instantly lock and unlock your credit file as needed.
- If you need access to your credit but still want some protection, consider setting up a fraud alert.
- However, phishing and smishing campaigns can be very sophisticated, appear legitimate and often involve something called spoofing.
- If you find you’re included in the breach, the steps you should take are not necessarily new.
- The FTC Identity Theft Report serves as official documentation for disputing fraudulent charges or accounts.
- Fill out the form there, and you’ll get an entire plan for how to recover your identity and protect yourself going forward.
This account allows you to review your Social Security Statement, check reported earnings, and estimate future benefits. You can create an account through Login.gov or ID.me, credential service providers for government agencies. You are entitled to a free credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion every 12 months via AnnualCreditReport.com. Thoroughly review these reports for any unrecognized accounts or inquiries. Federal law now allows permanent access to free weekly credit reports from all three agencies via AnnualCreditReport.com. Freezing your credit reports limits access to your reports and keeps creditors from checking your credit in response to a new application.
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You should create one as soon as you discover that your SSN is on the dark web. Otherwise, an identity thief could file a fraudulent tax return using your SSN and claim a refund before you do. But, if you don’t check and — if necessary — protect your accounts, your identity can be stolen. Recovering from identity theft is much more painful than preventing it.
The Dangers Of Having Your SSN On The Dark Web
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. Troves of information are added to the dark web after data breaches, so it can be difficult for services to keep up. As someone who works in human resources, I understand the significance of safeguarding your employment information. Placing a freeze on your account is crucial in protecting yourself against identity theft, which can lead to false employment and unreported wages, potentially resulting in an IRS audit.
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As a legal analyst and journalist with a deep interest in protecting consumers, I can tell you—this is serious business. Let me walk you through what you need to do now to protect yourself and prevent further harm. Setting up 2FA won’t do you any good if cybercriminals have access to your phone number.
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Fraudsters often use stolen SSNs to claim refunds before the rightful owner files their return. Discovering your Social Security Number (SSN) on the dark web can be alarming, leaving you vulnerable to identity theft, financial fraud, and other cybercrimes. You should also reset your password for any other account where you have used the same or similar password. While dark web or SSN monitoring services give you a definitive answer as to whether your SSN is on the dark web, the other methods we described are less straightforward.
In today’s digital age, identity theft and cybercrime have become increasingly prevalent threats. One of the most alarming scenarios for any individual is discovering that their Social Security number (SSN) has been found on the dark web. If you think your SSN is floating around on the dark web, don’t hesitate to check with Aura. Data breaches happen daily and no matter the precautions, there’s no guarantee your private information is safe. Finally, if your SSN is on the dark web, it means that it’s also probably floating around on the regular internet as well.
If it’s not a major hotel or restaurant chain getting hacked, it’s a financial institution. Taking prompt, decisive action and remaining vigilant can mitigate the risks and protect your identity. Stay patient, persistent, and proactive in your approach to identity protection. If you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission and file a report. Look for any unusual activity, such as new accounts or charges you don’t recognize.
And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. If your SSN was leaked and is potentially being used for identity theft, you can apply to the Social Security Administration to change it. Although finding your SSN on the dark web can be scary, it’s not the end of the world. As long as you stay vigilant, take quick action, and keep your personal information secure, you can reduce threats to a minimum.
- His work has appeared in Time, Success, USA Today, Credit Karma, NerdWallet, Wirecutter and more.
- Upon discovering your SSN has been compromised, placing a fraud alert on your credit reports is a first step.
- The truth is, you can never really be sure whether your private data is in the hands of cybercriminals.
- You can quickly change all your passwords by using a password manager, such as Keeper, which can generate new, strong passwords for each of your accounts.
- Request a new card number and consider asking your bank to freeze your credit or debit card temporarily.
The dark web is a hidden part of the internet where cybercriminals sell stolen data. If your SSN is found there, it means your personal information has been compromised, likely due to a data breach or phishing attack. Some credit cards offer credit monitoring and will send you an alert if a new credit line is opened in your name or if your balance changes significantly. Being notified that your information has been found in a data breach or on the dark web, as its name suggests, shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s likely not an occasion to full-on panic, but it probably suggests some next steps. You were smart to employ an identity protection provider to monitor the dark web for your credentials and alert you if they found anything.
