Identity Theft Involving Your Social Security Number

An identity thief may use your personal information to open a credit card account in your name. Here is how to spot it and what to do first.

What identity theft actually means

Identity theft is when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. That is how USAGov puts it. The FTC puts it another way. The FTC says identity theft is when someone uses your personal information without your knowledge or permission. They use it to commit fraud or theft.

The FTC says an identity thief may use your personal information to open a credit card account in your name. TransUnion puts the result simply. Your personal information has been hijacked by an imposter to commit fraud in your name.

So the goal is not to erase what happened. It is to contain the damage and keep watch from here on.

USAGov says scammers can steal your identity in person, online, through social media, and by phone. A few common routes:

They may steal your wallet or purse to get ID, credit, or bank cards.
They may go through your trash to retrieve bank statements or tax documents.
They may put skimmers on ATMs, cash registers, and gas pumps. These steal your bank card information.
They may get personal information from your phone when you use public Wi-Fi.
They may use phishing to get information from you through fraudulent email, texts, or phone calls.
They may look through your social media accounts to find identifying information in posts or photos.
They may ask you for personal information in online quizzes and surveys.

The FTC says scammers may try to get your Social Security or account numbers directly. Read about the scam social security playbook before you act on anything else. For the email version, see social security scam email.

Warning signs of identity theft

USAGov says you may not know right away that you experienced identity theft. The warning signs often arrive as paper and phone calls:

Bills that arrive for things you never purchased.
Collectors calling about debts that are not yours.
Information on your credit report for accounts you did not open.
Mail that stops coming to or is missing from your mailbox.

TransUnion adds two more. Watch your credit card and other account statements for purchases you didn't make. Then look at your credit report. Watch for accounts you do not recognize.

The FTC says identity theft can damage your credit with unpaid bills and past due accounts. The FTC also says mistakes on your credit report might be a sign of identity theft.

First moves: secure your accounts and place a fraud alert

Start with your own accounts. The SSA says to create a new, strong password if the scammer has your username and password for an account.

Then lock the door behind you. The SSA says to tell the three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, to add a fraud alert to your credit report. The FTC says anyone who is or suspects they may be affected by identity theft can place an initial fraud alert.

If you think you may have been a victim of identity theft, you can also file a fraud alert. To see how one bureau handles it, read about the experian fraud alert process.

The FTC says credit freezes and fraud alerts can also help stop someone who already stole your identity from misusing it again.

Look through your credit reports for unfamiliar accounts

Next, look at your credit reports yourself. The FTC says it's a good idea to regularly check what's in your credit report. You are looking for credit you never asked for and purchases you never made.

The FTC says fraud, including identity theft, can make your report wrong. If so, you can get another free report. So a bad report does not lock you out of checking it again.

The FTC says to sign up for free credit monitoring you contact each of the three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Report it and get a recovery plan

Both the FTC and the SSA point to the same place. Go to IdentityTheft.gov. Report the identity theft and get a recovery plan. USAGov says you can also report identity theft to the FTC by phone.

USAGov says to report identity theft to the fraud department at your credit card issuers, bank, and other places where you have accounts. That means your credit card issuers, your bank, and anywhere else. Tell them what happened.

For a fuller picture of how this kind of fraud works, see identity fraud.

A child's number can be stolen too. TransUnion says identity theft can also happen to children and can go undetected for years.

USAGov says to find out how to protect your child's information from identity theft. The FTC says the process for getting a credit freeze for a minor is different than getting one for an adult. The FTC says a child's credit freeze stays in place until you tell the credit bureaus to remove it.

What to watch going forward

Containment is ongoing work. Keep checking statements. USAGov says to review credit card and bank account statements and watch for and report unauthorized or suspicious transactions. Look for purchases that are not yours. Tell the company about any you spot.

Guard the number itself. USAGov says to store personal information, including your Social Security card, in a safe place and do not carry it in your wallet. That includes your Social Security card. Do not carry it in your wallet. Do not share personal information. That includes your bank account number, your Social Security number, and your date of birth.

USAGov says do not answer phone calls, texts, social media messages, or email from numbers or people you do not know.

One more move from the SSA. Visit ssa.gov/myaccount to sign in or create a personal my Social Security account. The SSA says opening your account helps secure your personal information and prevents identity thieves from fraudulently opening an account in your name. The SSA also says you will get an alert right away if anyone tries to change your address or direct deposit without your permission.