To see if your Social Security number is being used by someone else for employment purposes, review your Social Security Statement at to look for suspicious activity. Finally, you’ll want to use additional scrutiny by regularly checking your bank and credit card accounts online.
Can your Social Security number be compromised?
By assuming a real person’s name and SSN, a thief can steal property and money from that person. If your name and SSN are used by criminals, the police will come looking for you, not the actual crooks. “You can close a credit card if it is compromised,” said Adam Dolby, senior manager of Alkami Technology.
When were Social Security numbers issues?
November 1936
The best we can say with certainty is that the first SSN was issued sometime in mid-November 1936. In any case, on whatever day the first card was issued, hundreds of thousands of SSNs were probably issued on that same day, so many people had Social Security cards issued on the very first day they became available.
What to do if you think your SSN has been compromised?
If you know your Social Security number has been stolen, here are some additional steps to take:
- File a police report or a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Report.
- If you believe your identity has already been used, you can also contact the Social Security Fraud Hotline at (800) 269-0271.
How many social security numbers have been compromised?
Add Anthem, Premera, and Excellus and the tally of vulnerable numbers reaches more than 120 million, and that’s not including the countless smaller, documented breaches involving SSNs that have occurred over the past five years or so. But like I said, it’s not only about breaches.
What happens when you get a new Social Security number?
If you receive a new Social Security number, you shouldn’t use the old number anymore. For some victims of identity theft, a new number actually creates new problems. If the old credit information isn’t associated with your new number, the absence of any credit history under your new number may make it more difficult for you to get credit.
What do the nine digits on a Social Security card mean?
Let’s take a look at what these nine digits mean. The first three digits are the Area Number. Just like the area code of your phone number places your geographical origin, Area Numbers represent where in the United States the person holding the Social Security Number was either born or received their card.
What happens if your Social Security number is stolen?
If your Social Security number is stolen, another person may use it to get a job. That person’s employer would report earned income to the IRS using your Social Security number. This will make it appear that you didn’t report all of your income on your tax return.