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How To Freeze Your Social Security Number – Losing your Social Security card is not a tragedy. After all, you’ll rarely have to show your card anywhere. What matters is knowing your Social Security number.
But what could happen if you lose your Social Security card? If your lost card ends up in the hands of scammers or cybercriminals, they have access to your Social Security number and can cause significant damage.
How To Freeze Your Social Security Number
Armed with your Social Security number, criminals can take out loans or open credit card accounts in your name. They can access your online bank or credit card accounts, using your funds to buy electronics, expensive restaurant meals, hotel stays, and anything else they want.
What To Know Before Freezing Your Credit
Some may also use your Social Security number to file an income tax return on your behalf and get any tax refund you owe. Others may sell your Social Security number to vendors on the dark web.
What matters most is helping to protect yourself from potential identity theft. Yes, you can order a replacement card, but your priority should be to block criminals from using your Social Security number to create problems in your financial life.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent the damage thieves can cause even if they steal your Social Security number.
Placing a fraud alert with the three national credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion – encourages creditors or lenders to take additional steps to verify that you are applying for a new loan or credit card and not someone pretending to be you
What It Means To Freeze Your Credit [and When It’s A Good Idea]
For example, if someone applies for a new credit card in your name, the credit card company may call you at the number you provide. You can then check if you have requested the card or if someone is trying to fraudulently open an account in your name.
You only need to place an alert with one of the three credit bureaus, and that bureau will contact the other two. Your fraud alert will remain attached to your credit file for one year. You have the option to renew the alert after the end of the one year period.
Best of all, it’s free to set up a fraud alert. You can contact the offices here to place an alert on your credit files:
You want to identify the signs of identity theft as soon as possible. If you lose your Social Security card, you should order copies of your free credit reports — one maintained by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — from AnnualCreditReport.com.
How To Freeze Your Credit With Experian, Equifax And Transunion
It usually allows you to order a free report from each bureau every year. Due to the post-COVID-19 economic uncertainty, you can order a free report from any bureau every week. This also makes it easier to monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity.
When you get your reports, check for any credit card accounts or loans you know you never opened. Strange accounts on your credit reports are a sign that someone is using your identity.
It’s important to check your online bank and credit card accounts for suspicious purchases or large withdrawals, as criminals may have used your Social Security number to access these accounts. If you’re particularly concerned about identity theft, consider checking these online accounts daily for suspicious activity.
If you notice anything unusual on your credit reports, bank accounts, or credit card accounts, contact the bank, financial institution or lender connected to these accounts.
How Do Hackers Get Your Social Security Number?
Explain that you recently lost your Social Security card and suspect that a criminal is using your Social Security number to make purchases in your name, take out fraudulent loans, or open a credit card account with your information.
Remember, you are not responsible for these fraudulent purchases, but you should report them. Ask your bank or credit card provider to close your cards and bank accounts to stop any additional purchases or withdrawals.
The next thing you want to do if you lose your Social Security card is to change the passwords on your online accounts. You want to make it as difficult as possible for an identity thief to access those accounts, and protecting them with strong passwords is an easy step to take.
You can gain additional protection from scammers by freezing your credit with the three credit agencies. A freeze prevents lenders, credit card providers and other creditors from accessing your credit report, even when you (or someone else with your name) applies for a new loan or credit card. credit
Victims Of Social Security Number Theft Find It’s Hard To Bounce Back
Because creditors and borrowers cannot access your credit, they will automatically reject any application for a loan or a new credit card. This prevents identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name.
What happens if you lose your Social Security card and someone files a tax return on your behalf? They can steal your income statement and possibly cheat you out of thousands of dollars.
Returning your stolen Social Security card to the IRS can prevent scammers from filing a tax return on your behalf. For more information, read about identity protection from the IRS.
You should also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if you have lost your Social Security number and are concerned about identity theft.
How To Freeze Your Credit At All 3 Bureaus—for Free
Once you have taken steps to protect yourself from identity theft, you can proceed to order a replacement Social Security card. Fortunately, doing this is a relatively easy process.
Do it online: You can order a replacement Social Security card online. To do that, you will need to create an account.
Prove your identity: If you cannot apply for a new card online, you will need to bring certain documents to your Social Security office. You must bring original documents or certified copies from the issuing agency. Social Security agents cannot accept photocopies of these documents or notarized copies.
You will need to prove your identity by providing your US driver’s license, a state-issued non-driver ID card, or a US passport. The Social Security Administration has a helpful list of documents you may need.
Everything You Should Know About Credit Report Freezes
Foreign-born citizens: If you are a US citizen of foreign origin, you may need to bring proof of your citizenship. Acceptable documents include your US passport, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, Certificate of Birth Report, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
How to apply for a new SSN card: You can apply for your new card in person at any Social Security office.
How long does the process take: Although it varies, you can expect to receive your new Social Security card within seven to 10 business days.
Before ordering a new card, you may want to consider whether you need one. You rarely need to show your Social Security card to anyone. You may have to provide your Social Security number, but you do not need your physical card to do this.
What To Do If You Lose Your Social Security Card
If you get a new card, be very careful with it. Don’t put it in your wallet where you might lose it again. Instead, keep it at home in a safe place.
Keep in mind that you are not guaranteed an unlimited supply of Social Security cards – you can apply for a maximum of three replacement Social Security cards per year, and 10 during your lifetime.
Read on to learn the answers to some common questions surrounding what happens if you lose your social security card.
Yes! You don’t want your SSN card in the hands of a criminal who could steal your identity. It is crucial to set up a fraud alert with the credit bureau to report any suspicious activity.
How To Replace A Social Security Card
Yes, someone can steal your identity if they lose your Social Security card because it provides them with the information they need to open new accounts, receive fraudulent tax refunds, take out loans, and much more.
No, you can’t put a freeze on your Social Security number, but you can put a freeze on your credit scores to block access to your reports. By placing this freeze on your account, you prevent lenders, credit card providers and other creditors from accessing your credit report, resulting in a denial of a loan or a new credit card .
Editorial Note: Our articles provide educational information for you. Norton offers cannot cover or protect against any type of crime, fraud or threat that we write about. Our goal is to increase cyber security awareness. Please review the full Terms during registration or installation. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrimes, and that no one monitors all transactions at all companies.
Has your social security card been lost or stolen? Get expert advice on how to replace it quickly.
How To Protect Your Identity Beyond A Credit Freeze
If you have lost your wallet or noticed fraud on your accounts, you may have had to decide between a credit block versus a freeze. Learn about the differences here.
This comprehensive guide to identity theft protection offers an overview of ways to avoid identity theft, types of identity theft, and even identity theft statistics.
You may be wondering how to help protect yourself from identity theft, especially if you know others who have experienced it. Learn more from.
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