 Identity
Theft And Your Social Security Number
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Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in
America. When a dishonest person has your Social Security number, the
thief can use it to get other personal information about you. Most of
the time identity thieves use your number and your good credit to apply
for more credit in your name. Then, they use the credit cards and do not
pay the bills. You do not find out that someone is using your number
until you are turned down for credit, or you begin to get calls from
unknown creditors demanding payment for items you never bought.
Someone illegally using your Social Security number and assuming
your identity can cause a lot of problems.
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Contents
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Your number is
confidential
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Your Social Security number and our records are
confidential. We do not give your number to anyone, except when
authorized by law. You should be careful about sharing your number with
anyone who asks for it (even when you are provided with a benefit or
service).
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Don’t make it
easy for someone to steal your number
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Identity thieves get your personal information by:
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Stealing wallets, purses and your mail (bank and credit card
statements, pre-approved credit offers, telephone calling cards and
tax information);
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Stealing personal information you provide to an unsecured site
on the Internet, from business or personnel records at work and
personal information in your home;
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Sorting through trash for personal data;
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Posing as someone who legitimately needs information about you,
such as employers or landlords; or
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Buying personal information from “inside” sources. For
example, an identity thief may pay a store employee for information
about you that appears on an application for goods, services or
credit.
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Be careful
with your Social Security card and number to prevent theft
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Show your card to your employer when you start
a job so your records are correct. Then, put it in a safe place. DO
NOT carry your card with you.
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How can I
report that someone is using my Social Security number?
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You should file a complaint with the Federal Trade
Commission by:
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Telephone— 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)
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TTY—1-866-653-4261
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If you think someone is using your number for work purposes, you
should contact Social Security. One way to find out whether someone is
using your number in order to work is to check your Social
Security Statement. The Statement lists earnings
posted to your Social Security record. If you find an error on your Statement,
contact Social Security right away.
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What if I think someone is
using my number and creating credit problems for me?
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If someone used your Social Security number to get
credit, Social Security cannot fix your credit record. To fix your
credit record:
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Call the creditors who approved the credit (follow up with a
letter).
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File a police report.
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Contact the fraud department of the major credit bureaus. Ask:
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To have a flag placed on your record, requiring creditors to
contact you before approving additional credit using your name
and number;
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How long your account will be flagged and how you can extend
the flag, if necessary; and
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To have a statement added to your credit report—include
your name, explain the problem and provide a telephone number
where someone can call you.
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Request a copy of your credit report from each major credit bureau
and check to see if it contains any entries you do not know about. If
you are denied credit, you may be entitled to a free copy of your
report.
The major credit reporting agencies are:
Equifax
www.equifax.com
Report fraud:
1-800-525-6285
Order a credit report:
1-800-685-1111
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian
www.experian.com
Report fraud:
1-888-397-3742
Order a credit report:
1-888-EXPERIAN
(1-888-397-3742)
P.O. Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013-0949
TransUnion
www.tuc.com
Report fraud:
1-800-680-7289
Order a credit report:
1-800-916-8800
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
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Getting a new Social
Security number
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If you have done all you can to fix the problem and someone still is
using your number, we may assign you a new number. We cannot guarantee
that a new number will solve your problem.
You cannot get a new Social Security number if:
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You filed for bankruptcy;
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You intend to avoid the law or your legal responsibility; or
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Your Social Security card is lost or stolen, but there is no
evidence that someone is using your number.
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Contacting
Social Security
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For more information, visit our website at www.socialsecurity.gov
or call toll-free 1-800-772-1213 (for the deaf or hard
of hearing, call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778). We
can answer specific questions and provide information by automated phone
service 24 hours a day.
We treat all calls confidentially. We also want to make sure you
receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second
Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls.
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