Any unusual activity such as that we described above is a strong indication that your SSN has likely been exposed and is circulating on the dark web. If you aren’t sure if your SSN is on the dark web, you’ll want to check first. Unfortunately, searching the dark web for your SSN without the needed technical know-how and specialized tools, such as a secure operating system, Tor browser, and VPN, can be extremely risky. We don’t recommend you try it due to the dangers and potential legal implications involved. You’ll want to secure all of your online accounts by setting new, unique passwords for each one. It should also include upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special symbols.
Suspect Your SSN Was Stolen?
Further, any testimonials on this website reflect experiences that are personal to those particular users, and may not necessarily be representative of all users of our products and/or services. We do not claim, and you should not assume, that all users will have the same experiences. ⁴ Child members on the family plan will only have access to online account monitoring and social security number monitoring features. Scammers do everything they can to access your accounts — and your Social Security number is one of their favorite targets.
“Any password easy for you to remember is easy for a cybercriminal to guess.” Wolfe said. Your Social Security number and other personal information could be up for grabs in some of the worst parts of the internet. CreditWise is only available to US residents who are 18+, have a Social Security Number, and have a report on file at TransUnion. After the most recent breaches, I think everyone pretty much needs to assume their information is available. The real problem is that SSNs are not supposed to be used for identification but they have become so more or less by accident. You’ll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.
Guard Your Card: Protect What’s Important To You
Discovering that your SSN is on the dark web can be a distressing experience, but it’s essential to take immediate action to protect yourself from potential identity theft. So any scammers that might have your social security number, they’re not going to be able to access that and go to a store and open a credit card or another kind of account. It will not prevent you from using your active credit,” Annie Mitchell, CEO of the BBB of Eastern Oklahoma, told Fox 23 News.
- Additionally, there are forums, chat rooms, and social networks where users can communicate anonymously.
- “Because your social security number is used for everything. I go get a job. I need a job. I need social security. I sign up for a credit card. They need your social security number,” Tokatyan said.
- National Public Data is a background check company that provides information either through legitimate sources or by scraping it off the web, Lee said.
- Early detection of your SSN on the dark web allows you to take swift action to secure your identity and financial accounts before significant damage can occur.
Start Your Protection,
These services can provide extra protection and peace of mind when dealing with potential identity theft risks. You can use several tools to find out if your information is on the dark web, was compromised in a data breach or is easily accessible on the open internet. Illicit dark web marketplaces and forums ooze stolen and compromised PII, including SSNs sold to the highest bidders. The best way to find out if your SSN has been leaked online is to check if your data was part of a data breach.
Although they purport to do the same thing, a credit lock is not the same as a freeze. A credit freeze is a regulated service guaranteed by federal law, while a lock comes with no protections requiring it to work as advertised. If a report shows that someone opened a new credit line in your name, it’s highly likely that they did so with a stolen social security number.
Change Your Passwords Or Set Up Passkeys
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Your personal information, including your Social Security number, may already be for sale on the dark web, according to experts who warn that most people remain unaware of the threat. It’s unclear, although the lawsuit claims that NPD “has still not provided any notice or warning” to Hoffman or other people affected by the breach. However, Bleeping Computer reported that the file was later leaked for free on a hacker forum, as noted above.
How Many People Have Been Impacted?
You should consider setting up alerts for transactions on your bank accounts and credit cards and regularly checking your bank statements and credit reports for unauthorized transactions. Taking steps such as contacting the authorities, notifying your financial institutions, and monitoring your credit reports are crucial for mitigating the impact of having your SSN on the dark web. Enabling two-factor authentication, changing your passwords, and staying vigilant against phishing attempts further strengthen your digital security.
- You’ll have to contact just one of the three credit bureaus to create a fraud alert, and that agency will alert the others.
- You can request an IP PIN by creating an IRS account, verifying your identity, and following the on-screen instructions.
- The banks, lenders, and credit card companies are not responsible for any content posted on this site and do not endorse or guarantee any reviews.
- While removing your information from the dark web is all but impossible (we’ll cover why below), there are steps you can take to prevent criminals from exploiting your SSN.
This way, if a cybercriminal sells your SSN to other cybercriminals, no one will be able to use your SSN to commit fraud or identity theft. Banks and agencies—including the IRS—increasingly require you to use MFA to sign in to your accounts. Consider adding a “trusted contact”—this is especially helpful for seniors who may need assistance monitoring accounts. Since 2018, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has required investment companies to ask customers whether they’d like to designate another adult the firm can contact.
The leaked data, totaling 277GB, can be used for identity theft and fraud. Although the breach does not necessarily affect 2.9 billion unique individuals (due to multiple records per person), it still poses a significant risk. The information can be used to open fraudulent accounts, apply for loans, or even commit tax fraud.
Should You Be Worried If You Learn Your SSN Is On The Dark Web?
If your driver’s license was stolen, that information probably won’t be openly available on the dark web, for your run-of-the-mill identity thief to see. The truth is, you can never really be sure whether your private data is in the hands of cybercriminals. There are some giveaways that your personal information may be available to identity thieves. Remember, taking immediate action is crucial when your SSN is on the dark web. By following these steps and staying vigilant, you can minimize the potential damage and protect yourself from further harm. It’s important to note that not all activities on the dark web are illegal.
However, it is crucial to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding our personal information in today’s digital landscape. That hacker claimed the stolen files include 2.7 billion records, with each listing a person’s full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and phone number, Bleeping Computer said. We’d love to hear your comments on how the NPD breach has affected you.
Sign up for a free, 14-day Aura trial to be alerted in near real-time if someone uses your SSN or if any unauthorized activity is detected on your financial accounts. To scan for more sensitive information — such as your SSN, credit card details, or even passport numbers — you need to sign up for a full Dark Web monitoring service. A credit freeze is more secure than a fraud alert, which only requires lenders to take additional precautions before extending credit to you — something scammers have learned to circumvent. While data breaches are the primary means by which your SSN can end up on the Dark Web, breaches aren’t the only threat.
For example, if someone has used your SSN to take out a mortgage, notify the lender or financial institution as soon as possible to let them know that the application was fraudulent. Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try to protect your identity, a cybercriminal may still successfully open an account under your name. Establishing a my Social Security account is another way to monitor the use of your Social Security number. This type of account lets you track and manage your current benefits, including checking if anyone has filed a claim.
Enabling two-factor authentication significantly enhances the security of your online accounts. By requiring an additional verification step beyond a password, it greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access and potential compromise of your personal information. Take the time to enable 2FA for your important accounts and enjoy the added peace of mind that comes with this robust security measure. In recent years, numerous high-profile data breaches have occurred, exposing vast amounts of sensitive information.
You can change your SSN but the SSA only allows this under specific circumstances. Changing your SSN can cause problems with your credit report and make applying for legal documents such as passports more difficult. Instead, in most cases, it’s best to take steps to mitigate the consequences of a stolen SSN. Your best bet is to figure out what other personal information may have been compromised and take steps to mitigate the potential consequences.
It’s important to check all your bank and credit card statements carefully for any unusual expenses. If you see any purchases you don’t remember making, it could mean someone has used your SSN to steal your identity. The Dark Web is a layer of the internet that’s only accessible by using special tools such as the Tor browser. The April 2024 AT&T breach alone leaked over 70 million Social Security numbers to the Dark Web. Submitting a fraud report to the SSA will provide them with valuable information they can use to investigate Social Security fraud, such as suspicious benefits claims or work authorization requests. This report also acts as a formal record of the breach, which can be useful to refer to later if you need to fight the consequences of identity theft.
If you add blocks, you’ll need to contact SSA to make changes or remove the blocks. “Regular monitoring of your financial statements and credit reports can help you spot any unauthorized activity early,” he says. The credit score provided in CreditWise is a FICO® Score 8 based on TransUnion data. The FICO Score 8 gives you a good sense of your credit health but it may not be the same score model used by your lender or creditor.
