What to do if someone has your Social Security number

When it comes to personal information, your Social Security number (SSN) and Social Security card are one of the most sensitive pieces.

Assigned to nearly all American citizens at birth — as well as to permanent residents and eligible nonimmigrants who work in the United States — Social Security numbers were introduced in 1936 as a way to track individual’s income and determine their Social Security benefits.

In addition to its original intent, Social Security numbers are now collected and used by various other government agencies (including the IRS and Department of Motor Vehicles), financial institutions like banks and credit unions, employers, and more.

This makes Social Security numbers and Social Security cards hot commodities for identity thieves and fraudsters.

How identity thieves may obtain your Social Security number

Stealing someone’s Social Security Administration-issued physical card isn’t the only way identity thieves can access your number. They may also obtain it by rummaging through mail or trash bins for sensitive papers, like tax documents, which can include it.

As SSNs are collected and stored by many institutions and companies — from healthcare providers to financial institutions and beyond — thieves may also steal individuals’ numbers through corporate data breaches or by using personalized phishing and smishing attacks to trick victims into divulging their Social Security number.

What happens if your Social Security number is stolen

With a stolen SSN, criminals posing as you can: 

• Open fraudulent credit cards and bank accounts 

• File or collect tax returns 

• Access government benefits 

• Apply for loans 

• Receive health care 

If not spotted and resolved, these types of identity theft can rack up financial debt and do extensive damage to a person’s credit, making things like obtaining a loan to buy a car or house difficult or even impossible.

Unfortunately, it can take time for signs that your identity has been stolen to surface. Watch out for these red flags that your Social Security number has been stolen: 

• Bills or outreach from debt collectors for credit cards or loans you didn’t apply for 

• Medical bills you didn’t accrue  

• Missing tax returns or not being able to file a tax return because someone’s already done so 

• Discrepancies in your Social Security benefit statements or issues accessing government benefits you’re entitled to 

• Inaccurate or unexplained changes made to your accounts, especially a change in address 

• An unexpected drop in your credit score  

Someone stole my Social Security number — now what?

If you’re an Allstate Identity Protection member and you’re seeing any red flags for identity theft, give us a call using the number on your account dashboard. Our US-based customer care team is available 24/7 and will help guide you through next steps toward recovering your identity.

If you’re not a member and you suspect that someone has stolen your Social Security number, start by reporting the crime to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).

Then, alert your local law enforcement. Though they may not be able to investigate the issue, having a record of reporting the crime can help during the remediation process. 

Lastly, if someone has committed identity fraud using your SSN, request a credit freeze (also known as a security freeze) through each of the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Placing a freeze on your credit will block creditors from accessing your credit report, meaning no one can open credit cards or apply for loans using your Social Security number.

Alternatively, you could issue a fraud alert with the credit bureaus (you only need to contact one — they’ll alert the other two). This will require them to verify your identity if they receive a new credit or loan request, an option that’s helpful if you suspect your Social Security number has been compromised but you aren’t seeing any red flags for identity fraud yet.

Also place a fraud alert through your financial providers, so they can flag irregular transactions. And you can keep an eye on your Social Security earnings by visiting socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. 

Will I need a new Social Security number if mine is stolen?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) isn’t quick to change a person’s Social Security number because doing so can lead to complications with their earnings history, hurt their credit score, and cause hiccups for passport and loan applications.

However, if the identity fraud experienced from a stolen SSN is rampant and ongoing, they may issue you a new number.

With this in mind, the SSA cautions that records under your old SSN may still exist with other governmental agencies, banks, or credit reporting companies.

How to protect your Social Security number from identity theft 

Take these steps to safeguard your Social Security number: 

• Store your Social Security card somewhere safe, like in a lockbox or safe. Do not carry it around with you in your wallet or purse.  

• Stay alert to phishing scams. Do not give your SSN out to someone who calls, texts, or emails you even if they say they’re with a reputable organization.  

• Shred and dispose of any documents that contain your SSN and/or other sensitive personal information. 

• Give your Social Security number out sparingly and securely. Healthcare providers typically don’t need it even if their office forms have a space for it. If you’re digitally sending a tax document with your SSN, be sure the file is encrypted. 

• Request a free credit report from the credit bureaus each year. This will either give you peace of mind that all looks accurate or will alert you to signs of identity theft.  

• Regularly check your bank accounts and credit card statements for irregular charges.  

• Safeguard your identity with a protection plan like ours which will alert you if your information is involved in a data breach or lands on the dark web.