What To Do if Someone Has Your Social Security Number

Finding out that someone may have your Social Security number can leave you feeling exposed and powerless, especially if you have already spotted suspicious activity under your name.

Your concern is justified, and the good news is that there are steps you can take to protect yourself. While you usually cannot cancel an SSN like a stolen credit card, you can still make your information harder to misuse.

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Key Takeaways

• Freeze your credit at all three bureaus first. Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion separately — it's free, won't affect your score and blocks most new-account fraud.

• Review your reports weekly at AnnualCreditReport.com. It's the only federally authorized site for free reports, and all three bureaus now offer them weekly.

• Report confirmed theft at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC site builds a personal recovery plan and generates an Identity Theft Report you'll use with bureaus and lenders.

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

Step 1: Freeze Your Credit Reports

Start by freezing your credit with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You’ll need to contact each bureau separately, but the process is free.

A credit freeze limits access to your credit reports, which makes it harder for someone to open a new credit card or loan in your name. It won’t hurt your credit score, and you can lift it temporarily when you’re ready to apply for credit.

You can also place a free fraud alert by contacting any one of the three bureaus. The bureau you contact will notify the other two. A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps to make sure the person applying for credit is really you, but it does not prevent businesses from seeing your credit report. If you have evidence that your identity has been stolen, you can extend the fraud alert for seven year.

Step 2: Review Your Credit Reports and Accounts

Next, pull your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com. You can check each report online once a week.

Look for anything you don’t recognize, including:

• Credit cards or loans you never opened

• Credit inquiries you didn’t authorize

• Collection accounts that aren’t yours

• Incorrect addresses, employers or other personal information

Then check your bank accounts, credit cards, investment accounts and payment apps for unfamiliar charges or changes.

If you spot something suspicious, contact the bank, lender or other company tied to the account or transaction. Ask its fraud department to close or restrict the account, cancel any compromised cards and help you dispute unauthorized charges. You should also change your passwords and PINs and turn on multi-factor authentication.

Step 3: Report Confirmed Identity Theft

If someone has already used your Social Security number, report it at IdentityTheft.gov. 

The site will ask what happened and create a personal recovery plan based on your situation. If you create an account, it can also help you track your progress and pre-fill forms and letters.

You may also get an FTC Identity Theft Report, which can help prove the fraud when you contact credit bureaus, lenders or other companies.

Next, contact any bank, lender, utility, insurer or other company tied to the fraud. Tell them you’re a victim of identity theft and ask what documents they need from you to investigate the problem.

You may also need to file a police report if a creditor asks for one, you know who committed the theft or the fraud involved another crime.

Step 4: Protect Your Tax Identity

Someone with your Social Security number may try to file a tax return and claim a refund in your name. You can make that harder by requesting an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS.

An IP PIN is a six-digit number that helps prevent someone else from filing a federal tax return using your SSN. You’ll need to include it whenever you file, and it is valid for one calendar year.

If your return is rejected because another return has already been filed using your SSN, follow the IRS instructions for tax-related identity theft. You may need to submit Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit.

Step 5: Check Your Social Security Record

Create or sign in to your my Social Security account and review your earnings history. Income from an employer you don’t recognize could mean someone is using your SSN for work.

If your earnings record looks wrong, contact the Social Security Administration so it can review the record with you. If someone has used your SSN to create credit problems, SSA directs you to IdentityTheft.gov. 

Step 6: Document Everything

Keep records of every step you take. Save copies of:

• Your IdentityTheft.gov report and recovery plan

• Credit reports and disputed accounts

• Letters, forms and emails

• Dates and details of phone calls

• Representatives’ names and confirmation numbers

• Police reports, if applicable

Keeping good records can save you time and frustration if you need to dispute an account, charge or government record later.

Can You Get a New Social Security Number?

Possibly, but SSA only issues new numbers in limited situations. Losing your Social Security card is not enough if there is no evidence that someone is using your number.

SSA may consider issuing you a new number if someone is still using your SSN after you have tried to fix the problem. You’ll need to provide evidence that the misuse is ongoing and causing problems.

Even then, a new SSN does not guarantee a fresh start. Banks, government agencies and credit bureaus may still have records tied to your old number. In some cases, switching numbers can even make it harder to get credit if your old credit history is not connected to the new one.

How To Protect Your Social Security Number

These steps can help protect your Social Security number:

• Keep your Social Security card somewhere safe instead of carrying it in your wallet.

• Ask why a company needs your SSN, how it will use it and whether you can provide something else instead.

• Don’t give your number to unexpected callers, texters or email senders.

• Avoid sending your SSN through regular email or text unless you know the message is secure.

• Shred documents that include sensitive information before throwing them away.

• Use strong, unique passwords and turn on multi-factor authentication for important accounts.

FAQ

What should you do first if someone has your Social Security number?

Freeze your credit reports with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Then review your credit reports and financial accounts for signs that your information has already been used.

Should you freeze your credit if there are no signs of fraud?

A freeze may still be worthwhile if your SSN was exposed. It is free, does not affect your credit score and can make it harder for someone to open new credit accounts in your name.

Does a credit freeze prevent all Social Security number fraud?

No. A freeze mainly helps prevent new credit accounts from being opened in your name. It does not stop tax, employment or government-benefit fraud.

Can someone file a tax return using your Social Security number?

Yes. Someone could use your information to file a fake tax return and claim your refund. An IRS IP PIN can help protect your federal return from this type of fraud.

How do you remove fraudulent accounts from your credit report?

Send each credit bureau four things: an identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov, proof of your identity, a letter identifying the fraudulent accounts or information, a statement that the accounts or information is fraudulent.

Once the bureau receives your request, it generally must block the fraudulent information from your credit report within four days. You should also contact the lender or company reporting the account and tell them it resulted from identity theft.

Key Terms

• Credit freeze — A free restriction that blocks access to your credit reports so no one can open new accounts in your name until you lift it.

• Fraud alert — A free notice on your credit file telling lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity; an initial alert lasts one year and an extended alert for victims lasts seven years.

• Identity Theft Report — The report generated at IdentityTheft.gov, sometimes paired with a police report, that unlocks your enhanced FCRA rights.

• FCRA Section 605B block — Your right to have bureaus block fraudulent information within four business days of receiving the required documentation.

• Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) — A six-digit IRS number, valid for one calendar year, that must appear on your federal return to prevent tax-refund fraud.

• Form 14039 — The IRS Identity Theft Affidavit you may file if a fraudulent return was submitted using your SSN.

• my Social Security account — Your online SSA account for reviewing earnings history to spot employment-related SSN misuse.

• Soft inquiry — A check of your own credit that doesn't affect your score, unlike a hard inquiry from a new-credit application.

Sources

• Federal Trade Commission — IdentityTheft.gov

• FTC / Consumer.gov — FCRA § 605B (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2)

• IRS — Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)

• AnnualCreditReport.com

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

Photo Credit: Douglas Sacha/ Getty Images