If your Social Security number has been stolen or compromised, taking swift, methodical action can help minimize damage and restore your identity security. Follow these comprehensive steps in sequence to protect yourself and recover from Social Security number theft:
Immediate Response Actions (First 24-48 Hours)
- Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
- File an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov
- Complete the online questionnaire to generate your personalized recovery plan
- Save and print your Identity Theft Report (crucial for disputing fraudulent accounts)
- Follow the step-by-step guidance tailored to your specific situation
- Place fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus:
- Contact one bureau (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to place an initial 1-year fraud alert
- The first bureau is required to notify the other two
- Consider an extended 7-year fraud alert if you have an identity theft report
- Fraud alerts prompt creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts
- Request credit freezes at all three major bureaus:
- Equifax: (800) 349-9960 or equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
- Experian: (888) 397-3742 or experian.com/freeze
- TransUnion: (888) 909-8872 or transunion.com/credit-freeze
- Credit freezes prevent new credit accounts from being opened in your name
- Review your credit reports immediately:
- Get free reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com
- Identify and flag any unfamiliar accounts or inquiries
- Look for addresses you don’t recognize
- Check for unexpected name variations
Financial Account Protection (Within 1 Week)
- Change passwords and security questions:
- Update all financial account passwords
- Create strong, unique passwords for each account
- Implement two-factor authentication wherever possible
- Change security questions and answers (avoid publicly available information)
- Contact financial institutions:
- Alert banks, credit unions, and investment firms
- Request new account numbers if necessary
- Add verbal passwords for phone banking
- Enable additional security verifications
- Review recent transactions for unauthorized activity
- Check with specialized consumer reporting agencies:
- ChexSystems (checking accounts): 800-428-9623
- National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (utilities): 866-343-2821
- MIB (medical information): 866-692-6901
- Request reports and place security freezes if available
Government Agency Notifications (Within 2 Weeks)
- Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA):
- Call 800-772-1213 to report the theft
- Create a my Social Security account online to monitor your earnings record
- Note: SSA rarely issues new Social Security numbers, even in theft cases
- Request a Social Security Statement to check for earnings discrepancies
- File a report with your local police department:
- Bring your FTC Identity Theft Report
- Include proof of address and photo ID
- Ask for a copy of the police report for your records
- Some creditors may require this for fraud disputes
- Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS):
- Complete Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) if tax-related fraud is suspected
- Enroll in the Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) program
- Report unauthorized tax account activities to the IRS at 800-908-4490
- Consider filing tax returns early to prevent fraudulent filing
Dispute and Recovery Process (Ongoing)
- Contact companies where fraud occurred:
- Contact the fraud department of each company
- Ask them to close or freeze fraudulent accounts
- Request documentation of fraudulent transactions
- Follow up with written dispute letters
- Reference your FTC Identity Theft Report in all communications
- Dispute fraudulent information on credit reports:
- Submit disputes to each credit bureau where fraud appears
- Include your FTC Identity Theft Report with disputes
- Send disputes via certified mail with return receipt
- Keep copies of all correspondence
- Follow up if no response within 30 days
Long-term Monitoring and Protection (Ongoing)
- Implement continuous monitoring:
- Review credit reports quarterly (rotate between bureaus for free monthly checks)
- Monitor financial accounts weekly
- Set up account alerts for all transactions
- Check your Social Security Statement annually
- Review medical insurance Explanation of Benefits statements
- Consider identity theft protection services:
- Evaluate services that include credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, and recovery assistance
- Determine if your employer, insurance, or financial institutions offer complimentary services
- Compare restoration services and insurance coverage
- Keep security freezes active:
- Maintain credit freezes except when actively applying for credit
- Temporarily “thaw” freezes when needed for legitimate applications
- Refreeze accounts promptly after applications are processed
When to Consider Applying for a New Social Security Number
- The SSA rarely issues new numbers and considers it only when:
- You can prove you’re experiencing ongoing harm despite taking all preventive steps
- You can document specific misuse of your current number
- You can prove the problems are directly caused by SSN misuse
- Important considerations before applying:
- A new number won’t necessarily solve all problems
- Your old number remains valid and linked to your credit history
- A new number creates a blank credit history, making it difficult to obtain credit
- Government agencies and some businesses will maintain records under your old number
The most important aspects of responding to Social Security number theft are speed, thoroughness, and persistence. Document every step of your recovery process and maintain vigilance over your accounts and credit reports even after the immediate issues seem resolved. Identity thieves may attempt to use your information months or years later, so ongoing monitoring remains essential.