Identity theft is rising at a steady rate throughout the United States and that means big trouble for you. Thieves can use your Social Security number to access your personal information, including banking accounts, personnel information and credit card information. They can also use your number to establish credit cards to use that they do not intend to pay for, establish utilities and even file a tax return in your name and receive any refund you are entitled to. Preventing identity theft is easier than fixing the problem once it has occurred; however, you can get your life back on track after identity theft using your Social Security number.
Step 1
File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at IC3.gov. It will report the fraudulent use of your number to law enforcement agencies or regulation agencies, which can investigate this matter and prosecute the thief if caught. This agency will keep in close contact with the FBI, the National White Collar Crime Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance to get this matter resolved as soon as possible. You might want to also file a police report with your local sheriff's department.
Step 2
Contact the Internal Revenue Service's Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490 to determine if there are unexplained wages and earnings being earned under your name. This will ensure that you are not accused of not reporting wages or paying required taxes. This will also prevent the thief from filing a bogus tax return in your name and taking your refund from you.
Step 3
File a complaint with the three major credit reporting agencies. These agencies are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They will place an alert on your credit report to monitor for fraudulent activity and can resolve any activity that has already been placed on your credit report without your authorization. To report fraud with Equifax visit www.alerts.equifax.com, for Experian, visit www.experian.com, and for TransUnion visit www.transunion.com. Each company has an online form that will place an alert on your credit report and also notify the merchant where your Social Security number was used.
Step 4
Apply for a new Social Security number if all else fails. This could make matters tougher, by compromising access to your financial accounts, and it will not be linked to your already good credit. Applying for credit will be hard as there is no credit history attached to your new number, even though the name and address would be the same as your old one. Your old one will then be discontinued and no longer accessible. To apply for a new card you can visit online at www.ssa.gov to find an office near you or you can call 1-800-772-1213. Applying for a new number requires that you travel to your local Social Security Office in order to speak with a case worker about your situation.
Tips and Warnings
- You must show evidence of ongoing turmoil caused by identity theft before obtaining a new Social Security number. Contact the Federal Trade Commission to get tips on how to prevent further usage of your personal information and information on identity theft.
- To avoid identity theft, never carry your Social Security number in your purse or in your wallet. This is a pickpocket or purse snatcher's dream come true. Do not give out your Social Security number on unsecured websites.
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