If your SSN has been exposed, that does not necessarily mean it has been actually used for identity theft. However, there are some things you can do to protect yourself and reduce the risk of becoming a victim. While you can’t remove your credentials from the dark web, knowing what information was compromised can help you take action to better protect yourself from future identity theft and fraud.
By following these steps and staying vigilant, you can minimize the potential damage and protect yourself from further harm. It’s important to note that not all activities on the dark web are illegal. Whistleblowers, journalists, and individuals living under oppressive regimes may use the dark web to share sensitive information and protect their identities. Nevertheless, the anonymity provided by the dark web has become synonymous with criminal activities.
Get An Identity Protection PIN
The last major thing is to make sure that all your important web sites have different passwords. That way, if someone gets your password to a low security site like a blog or comment forum, that does not give them access to your financials. You’re able to keep a close eye on your TransUnion credit report with free access from CreditWise. 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.
How To Protect Your Personal Information From Fraud
After confirming that your SSN is on the dark web, there are several steps you need to take immediately to protect your identity from further damage. Government officials are warning that many American Social Security numbers may be on the dark web for others to purchase and use for fraud. Justin Cappos, a computer science professor and cybersecurity expert at New York University, joins CBS News with more details. He adds that “with such hard passwords, nobody can memorize and reliably use more than a handful. But no realistic person expects you to. Basically, everyone needs a password manager.” Your stolen driver’s license or Social Security number isn’t likely to be openly available on the dark web because it’s more valuable, Wolfe said.
This added layer of complexity makes it attractive to cybercriminals who want to operate under the radar. While legal organizations may tout the idea that money damages may be available to people affected by the breach, any sums that are eventually paid likely won’t be meaningful, Lee said. In addition to freezing your credit, there are ways to purchase additional protection.
If your SSN has been leaked, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your financial accounts. Upon discovering your SSN has been compromised, placing a fraud alert on your credit reports is a first step. You only need to contact one of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion—which then notifies the other two.
Verify The Source Of The Alert
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. 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. Social Security AdministrationOur mission is to deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public. Now that we understand the gravity of the situation, let’s explore the steps you should take to protect yourself.
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The odds of someone using your Social Security number to conduct identity theft crimes are higher than you think. In 2015, a lead data scientist at Verizon estimated that up to 80% of Social Security numbers had already been stolen by cybercriminals. As identity thieves become more advanced, you need to combine personal information protection, document handling, and cybersecurity best practices to protect your SSN. 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. “With Marriott and the other hotel breaches, all of those credit cards got revoked and re-issued,” points out Henderson.
- Another man who asked to stay anonymous said he had been a victim of identity theft in the past.
- If your passport or driver’s license is stolen, you can get a replacement issued with brand new numbers.
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- It also allows you to “lock” your SSN to stop scammers from using your SSN to illegally obtain employment in your name.
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Before delving into the action steps, it’s important to understand the dark web and why finding your SSN there is cause for concern. Gareth Neumann is a retired Baby Boomer in his early sixties (no one’s allowed to know his actual age!). He still fondly remembers his first job as a store clerk at the tender age of 12, and it was non-stop work since then. Now he’s decided that he’s worked enough to last two lifetimes and finally retired in 2014.
Found Your SSN On The Dark Web? Here Are Your Next Steps
Therefore, it is essential to take this step seriously and obtain an identity theft pin from the IRS to prevent this type of fraud. It is crucial to have a bank security freeze to protect your identity from being stolen and used by someone else to open a bank account in your name. This could lead to the misuse of your finances or even result in money laundering, causing significant harm to your financial reputation. By placing a security freeze on your ChexSystems report, you can limit access and make it difficult for anyone to open an account in your name. On the scarier side, the compromised records are supposedly extensive, including names, social security numbers, birth dates, phone numbers, addresses and other personal data.
It further claims to have “implemented additional security measures,” but with no specifics, it’s best to assume that these measures don’t exist. One such service is how Hofmann, who filed the lawsuit, found out that his information has been leaked as part of NPD breach. However, Bleeping Computer reported that the file was later leaked for free on a hacker forum, as noted above. The company added that it is working with law enforcement and government investigators.
Be sure to submit requests to each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Still, experts say news of the breach is a great reminder to take steps to protect your personal information. The Social Security Administration also provides online access to your earnings and benefits history through its my Social Security account.
- Most SSNs have been leaked to the Dark Web in recent years — making it more important than ever to learn how to make yourself a less vulnerable target.
- One site — NPDBreach.com — allows for a search by full name and zip code, Social Security number or phone number.
- Sometimes, websites offering dark web monitoring services may mistakenly flag your information.
- Or you get a call from a lender threatening repossession of a luxury car that you don’t own.
- Instead, you should try to figure out what additional information has been compromised — such as your credit card numbers, home address, or phone number — so you can mitigate the damage.
That’s more than enough for a criminal to use for identity theft and financial crimes. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for sensitive accounts, use unique passwords, and update them regularly. This adds an extra layer of protection against hackers and data breaches.
In some cases, your bank may recommend additional cybersecurity measures, such as setting up transaction limits or requiring approval for large purchases. A reliable way to pinpoint the information that could have caused your score to drop is reviewing your credit report. You can request free credit reports online weekly from the three main credit reporting bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — using AnnualCreditReport.com. In the wake of several high-profile data breaches in 2024 — including one of the largest to date — Americans have once again turned their attention to the dark web. Stolen data often ends up for sale on this secret section of the internet, where the total amount of money made by markets and fraud shops amounted to $1.7 billion in 2023.
