Why Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts Are More Than Enough

Social Security numbers are perhaps the last piece of information you want to see caught up in a data breach. You’ve likely heard about the harm you could face when your Social is leaked in a cyberattack, and your first instinct may be that irreparable damage is soon in your future.

It is especially frustrating when your Social Security number is leaked through no fault of your own, as many people experienced during some of the most notable data breaches in recent memory, including the incidents involving Target, Equifax and National Public Data.

When your Social Security number is leaked or stolen, the course of action recommended is to place a credit freeze and fraud alert on your account and set up ID monitoring.

Given the harms you may fear when your Social Security number is out in the open, and the simplicity of the mitigation actions to protect yourself, it may not feel as though you are doing enough to protect yourself from severe harm.

This is absolutely not the case. Taking these actions may not seem like much, but they are the absolute best way to minimize your risk.

By placing a credit freeze and fraud alert on your accounts and setting up credit monitoring, you will be able to know of any attempts to use your Social Security number. This will allow you to take action and prevent any harm from taking place.

You can stop accounts from being opened in your name, and when you need to open an account yourself, lenders must take the proper steps to verify your identity.

Think of it as a game of basketball. The other team has the ball, and these tools will help you play defense. And these tools work really well. You may want to do more, but the truth is these are all the steps you need to take. Credit freezes, fraud alerts and ID monitoring will stop all attempts to use your Social Security number in their tracks.

BlackCloak is here to help facilitate these processes through the services we provide. We will help you every step of the way to ensure your accounts and your digital identity are safe.

Losing your Social Security number is frustrating, especially when it isn’t your fault. When it does happen, just remember to take a deep breath and take these steps as soon as possible. The dangers may seem stark, but the solutions are simple, and more importantly, incredibly effective.