SSN Has Been Compromised or You Suspect It's Been Compromised? What Should You Do?

If you know or suspect that your Social Security Number (SSN) has been compromised, there are steps you should take to report the fraud and help protect yourself.

Contact the Social Security Administration

• Consider establishing a MySocialSecurity account with the SSA in order to track and monitor the use of your SSN.
  • The SSA also offers additional blocks (eServices block and Direct Deposit Fraud Prevention block) that can be added to your account once set up.

Report the Identity Theft to the FTC

• Check out our client guide for more details on how to report to the FTC.

Report the Fraud to the SSA Office of the Inspector General

• OIG’s fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271
• Submit a report online here.

Add a Fraud Alert and/or Credit Freeze with the Credit Reporting Agencies

• Check out our client guide for more details on how to add a fraud alert and/or freeze.

Revised Version:

If you know or suspect that your Social Security Number (SSN) has been compromised, it is important to take prompt and proactive steps to help protect yourself from potential identity theft and fraud.
Following the steps in this guide will help you secure your personal and financial information and reduce the risk of misuse.

Why Is Acting Quickly Important?

Your SSN is a unique identifier that criminals could use to:

• Open new credit cards or loans in your name
• Commit tax fraud and file fraudulent tax returns
• Open utility or phone accounts using your identity
• Receive medical care using your benefits
• Steal government benefits or Social Security checks
• Commit crimes that could become associated with your identity
• Seek employment using your SSN
• Gain access to personal and financial accounts

The goal of the steps below is to prevent this type of misuse and monitor for any suspicious activity.

File an Identity Theft Report with the FTC

Go to IdentityTheft.gov and file an Identity Theft Report.

Why this matters:

• Creates an official record of the incident
• Generates a personalized recovery plan
• Helps you when working with credit bureaus and banks

Set Up Your mySocialSecurity Account

SSA Account:

• Go to MySocialSecurity and create your mySocialSecurity account in order to track and monitor the use of your SSN.
  • Once you have your Social Security Account, you can:
    • Manage your Social Security Information Online
    • Order a New Social Security Card
    • Add Additional blocks such as eServices Block and Direct Deposit Fraud Prevention block, to further protect your account.

Report Fraud to the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

• OIG’s fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271
• Submit a report online here.

This step ensures that the SSA has a formal record of the compromise.

Place a Fraud Alert or Freeze Your Credit

Fraud Alert:

• Contact any one of the three major credit bureaus to request a fraud alert:
  • Experian
  • Equifax
  • TransUnion
• The bureau you contact will notify the others.
• This flags your credit file and encourages lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new accounts.

Credit Freeze:

• This adds a stronger protection by stopping lenders from accessing your credit report entirely, preventing new accounts from being opened.
• You will need to contact all three credit bureaus individually to place a freeze.

For full instructions, see our Client Guide on Adding Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts on the Desktop Application.

Notify Your Financial Institutions

Immediately contact: Banks, Credit card issuers and Investment firms

Ask them to:

• Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity.
• Place additional security protections on your accounts.
• Reissue account numbers if needed
• Help you reset online access (new passwords, multi-factor authentication)

Apply for an IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)

• The IRS can assign a six (6) digit PIN that is known only to you and the IRS to prevent someone else from filing a tax return using your SSN. These steps can be found here.

Moving Forward: Stay Vigilant

• Monitor your credit reports regularly.
  • You can view reports through ID Theft & Monitoring in the BlackCloak App or directly from the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
• Check for suspicious activity.
  • Look for unfamiliar accounts, unexpected credit inquiries, or incorrect personal information — and dispute any errors immediately.
• Be cautious of scams.
  • Stay alert for phishing emails, scam phone calls, and suspicious text messages.
• Strengthen your account security.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts where available, and regularly update passwords on key accounts.
• Limit the use of your SSN.
  • Only share your SSN when absolutely necessary.
• Maintain ongoing monitoring.
  • Keep an eye on your credit, bank accounts, and any government accounts for continued protection.