You Need to Protect Your Social Security Number to Help Prevent Identity Theft

Identity theft will continue to grow, fueled by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the hands of criminals, which is why you must take steps to protect your Social Security Number as best you can. 

When thieves have stolen SSNs, they use them for their own gain… and you come out the loser.

You probably don’t think about your SSN much, only when you use it. But think about this: you’re required to use it at very important times in your life.

• When you first land a job and every job thereafter.
• Any time you apply for any type of loan, credit card, or financial aid.
• During the enrollment period for joining a health plan.
• Opening checking, savings and investment accounts.
• Getting your official passport
• For obtaining virtually any type of government benefit.
• For filing  taxes with the Internal Revenue Service

It’s only when you stop to think about it that it becomes clear why your Social Security Number is so important to you and why criminals want it.

Why you need to protect your Social Security number.

Now imagine a thief had your Social Security Number, along with other information they gathered about you from social media and other sources. Add to that the idea of a crook using AI to create a fake persona (or simply impersonating YOU) to obtain benefits, a job, or a real tax refund in your name. It happens all the time. Let’s look at the common types of fraud related to Social Security Numbers:

Loans and credit fraud.

Scammers apply for loans, credit cards, and lines of credit in your name using your SSN and other easily obtainable information, such as your birthday. They might open a line of credit and max out the account quickly, before anyone knows fraud was involved. 

• By the time it’s discovered and you’ve “missed” payments, your credit history and score are damaged, and debt collectors are calling.

ID theft for employment.

Instead of making up a fake SSN, someone buys or uses a stolen one to apply for a job. If the employer is careless with paperwork, the IRS thinks you have a new job and comes after you at tax time. 

• Over time, these “extra earnings” and unaccounted income tied to your SSN could prompt government agencies to charge fees, add taxes, and suspend benefits they believe you’re now unqualified for.

Stealing tax refunds.

As you know, everyone who works must file a tax return for the previous year’s earnings. With a stolen SSN, a scammer may try to file a return to claim a refund and redirect the payment to themselves.

• If a scammer uses your SSN to steal your tax refund, the IRS will flag your own return as suspicious when you file and likely reject it. If you were counting on that money, it might take months to resolve the confusion and get your funds.

How to protect your Social Security Number.

As you can see, it’s important to do everything you can to keep your Social Security Number safe and out of the hands of scammers, data brokers, and anyone who doesn’t need it! Here are some ideas to get you started on a personal plan to protect your Social Security Number:

1. Don’t give it to anyone who asks for it.

You wouldn’t give your home address to a stranger. You’d want to know why they wanted it (probably to rob your home when you’re away!). You need to guard your Social Security Number even more carefully. Here are some basic habits to put in place starting now: 

• Push back. If a business requests it, ask why they need it.
• Ask whether there are alternative second identifiers to your SSN.
• Offer to provide only the last four digits of your Social Security number if they insist.
• Never, ever, provide it to anyone over the phone unless you know them personally, trust them, and are in an ongoing conversation regarding a loan or account.

2. Monitor your credit accounts closely.

There are services you can sign up for (and pay for) to help you monitor credit activity, but you should really do your part first before considering them. Here’s how you can start:

• Check your credit reports every year from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. You’re entitled to a free report each year, and you can obtain a report on demand for a fee.
• Did you know you can view your Social Security statements online? Review them regularly to ensure no one is misusing your account.
• Check your financial statements to ensure no one is adding a new credit card or loan to your existing credit accounts.

3. Boost digital security for all your accounts.

Protect your accounts and identity by using strong passwords and adding an extra layer of security with two-factor authentication. If a criminal gains access to a credit account, they can use your SSN to open new loans. Don’t let that happen. 

• Use a password manager to help you create stronger passwords and simplify logging in.
• Use passkeys wherever you can instead of passwords you have to type. Learn more by reading our article on passkeys.
• Add an extra step to the login process by using two-factor authentication wherever you can.

Make sure you’re using id.me or login.gov to sign in to SSA.gov.

Set up a personal “my Social Security account” on SSA.gov to securely access your Social Security benefits. This ensures that only you can access your Social Security Administration account. If you’ve never verified your identity to access your information using either id.me or login.gov, do so immediately. You can get started now by visiting the ssa.gov website.   

Visit our Learning Center for more resources.

To learn more about protecting yourself from scams and fraud, visit the WhatIsMyIPAddress.com Learning Center. There, you can browse hundreds of articles and interviews to help you stay safe.