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Social Security Card Is Stolen

Closely Review Your Credit Reports And Accounts

How to replace a lost or stolen social security card.

If you ever notice unusual activity, report it immediately to the applicable creditor as well as to one of the three major credit bureaus. You must provide strong evidence to the Social Security Administration of fraud on your account to secure a new Social Security Number. An identity theft protection service can help you monitor and protect your accounts to help with this process.

If Your Mail Was Stolen Or Your Address Changed By An Identity Thief

Notify the Postal Inspector if you think an identity thief has stolen your mail or filed a change of address request in your name. To find the nearest Postal Inspector, look in the white pages of the telephone book for the Post Office listing under United States Government. Or go to the Postal Inspection Services Web site at .

Place A Fraud Alert On Your Credit File

One of the first steps you should take if your SSN or card is stolen or lost is to place an initial fraud alert on your credit file. Placing a fraud alertprovides you extra protection as a notice is placed on your credit file with the three major credit bureaus, alerting potential creditors to contact you before a new account is opened in your name.

You will need to contact one of the three major credit bureaus Experian , TransUnion , or Equifax to place a fraud alert and to inform them of what happened to your SSN or card. Whichever bureau you contact to place a fraud alert, they will place the fraud alert with the other two bureaus as well.

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Use Identity Theft Monitoring

The best way to keep an eye on your information and other personal data is to use identity monitoring. You will receive notifications and alerts every time a breach or exposure of your personal information occurs, or your details are found on scam sites. Prevent becoming a victim of financial scams by proactively monitoring your identity with identity theft protection and credit monitoring.

You must protect your SSN with every available protection. Your social security number is your unique identifier, and it could be used against you in many ways. Do all you can and do yourself the favor of signing up for credit and identity theft monitoring to keep yourself safe.

How To Protect Your Identity Going Forward

How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Social Security Card

Now that you have made your initial report and have a new card on the way, what do you need to do to protect yourself going forward? First, you should consider signing up for a credit monitoring service so that you can keep a close eye on your credit. This type of service will alert you immediately if anyone attempts to use your Social Security number to obtain a new line of credit like a loan or credit card.

You might even consider contacting the major credit reporting agencies like Experian, Equifax, and Transunion to place a lock on your Social Security number. This would prevent anyone from using your SSN to obtain credit without going through rigorous identification verification. Finally, make sure to keep a constant watch on your credit file for any suspicious activity. You can obtain a free copy of your report at annualcreditreport.com, and staying vigilant will help protect you from ID theft going forward.

Finally, you should keep your Social Security card safe and secure. There is really no reason to carry your card with you all the time. It is best stored in a safe location and only pulled out when absolutely necessary. This can help prevent both theft and accidental loss of your card.

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Find Contact Information For The Major Credit Bureaus

Once you have the police report, go online and find the contact information for all three major credit bureaus. The three national credit bureaus are TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. Dont contact them through email youll have to find their physical mailing addresses and phone numbers on their pages.

I Lost My Social Security Card How To Report A Stolen Social Security Card

Whether youve lost it and suspect that it may be stolen or know that it has been stolen, reporting the theft of your social security card is important. Do this before researching how to get a new social security card.

Contact the Social Security Office directly to report the lost card. You can do so by making an appointment at your local Social Security Office or calling 800-772-1213. If you believe someone is already using your identity, contact the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271. After you contact the office, youll be ready to learn how to get a new social security card.

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Ssn & Financial Crimes

Financial crimes connected to stolen social security cards are very prevalent in today’s digital environment. Many online scams target unsuspecting users to lure you into giving up as much personal information as possible. Be wary of any unfamiliar websites, web services, emails, or other types of notifications that look sketchy or amateurish and lack proper contact information or other verifications that the business or service is legitimate.

What To Do If Your Social Security Card Is Lost Or Stolen

STOLEN Social Security Number? | This is What REALLY Happens

You need to act fast if you believe your Social Security Card has been lost or stolen. Here’s what to do.

If you’ve lost your Social Security card, or you believe someone has stolen your card, take immediate action. Your Social Security Number is the most important and valuable form of government identification you have. A thief can use it to do anything you could do with it, including purchasing property or opening new financial accounts.

Your Social Security Number could be sold to people staying in the U.S. illegally, or even used to commit crimes under your alias. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to invest in the best identity theft protection services , which can alert you to fraud and help you to reclaim losses from identity theft if your Social Security Card gets into the wrong hands.

Unlike with a lost or stolen credit card or debit card, you cannot close your account when your Social Security Card goes missing, so you need to take this series of steps as soon as you can.

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Birth Death Marriage And Divorce Records

For births that occurred in the State of Texas within the past 75 years and deaths that occurred in the State of Texas within the past 25 years, only the person themselves or the immediate family members of the person whose name is on the birth certificate or death certificate are eligible to request a copy. Those with any other relationship must provide legal documentation, such as a court order establishing guardianship. You can obtain birth or death certificates from the Vital Statistics Office.

If you were born or adopted out of state, contact the local county records office where you were born or adopted for instructions of how to obtain a copy of your birth certificate.

854-9188

Carefully Review Your Credit Reports And Accounts

If you notice any unusual or suspicious activity on your credit card statements, bank accounts, or credit reports that you didnt authorize, you should immediately report any fraudulent activity to your creditors and to one of the three major credit bureaus.

You can receive a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit bureaus. Just go online to www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

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Why Bother With Step 5

Its like one of those science fair projects you did in middle school you need to determine the situation before everything changed, before the big new variable came into play. In middle school, that variable was what you put in a fake volcano. Today, that variable is the theft of your Social Security Card. Its a big difference in scale, but not in terms of the variable.

Request A Credit Freeze Or Fraud Alert

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A restricts access to your credit report and helps prevent fraudsters from opening new accounts, renting apartments or applying for loans in your name. Freezing your credit will not affect your credit score, and you can unfreeze and refreeze your credit report at any time.

You’ll need to freeze and unfreeze your credit with all three credit bureaus separately .

If you think your SSN may have been stolen but don’t have any evidence of fraud occurring, you could place a fraud alert on your credit report instead of a credit freeze. Rather than restricting access to your credit report, a fraud alert asks businesses checking your credit to verify your identity before offering credit in your name.

Placing a fraud alert with one credit bureau extends the alert to all three. It has no effect on your credit score.

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File A Report With The Applicable Authorities

You should report the potential identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT.

If you believe your Social Security card is stolen or lost, you should contact the police and file a police report. By filing an identity theft report with the police, you will help protect yourself if an identity thief uses your SSN to commit a crime. Also, a police report is required if you determine you need to get a new SSN.

How Can I Check To See If Someone Is Using My Ssn

If you discover your Social Security card is missing or stolen, there are quite a few ways to monitor your SSN for suspicious activity. Here are 11 tactics to determine if someone is fraudulently using your SSN.

You notice early signs of identity theft

There are several tell-tale signs of identity theft, namely new credit or lender inquiries on your credit report. In 2021 alone, the FTC reported 363,092 cases of cybercriminals and scammers fraudulently opening new credit cards â which alerted consumers that their identities were stolen.

Unfamiliar charges on your credit card or bank statement

New credit cards or loan amounts arenât the only signs of identity theft. There were 32,204 reports of on existing accounts in 2021 alone. Unfamiliar charges on your credit card or bank statement are clear indicators that you are a victim of a bank scam.

A drastic change in your credit score

Your credit score is a reflection of your current credit lines, payment history, and incoming credit inquiries. If your credit score plummets 20 points or more, immediately review your credit report and Social Security Statement to check for fraudulent activity.

With your financial information at their disposal, itâs very common for identity thieves to rack up an impressive amount of debt. When debt collectors that you donât recognize begin to call you or send letters to your home, itâs important to review your current credit report.

Unfamiliar medical bills

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Use Safe Websites & Services & Check For Breaches Regularly

Always make sure that any website or online service that you frequent utilizes the latest security protections and certificates that allow for safe and secure personal data exchanges and storage. Do not send your personal details by email or text, and never fill out any forms on sites you do not recognize.

What To Do When Your Social Security Card Is Stolen

What to Do if You Lose Your Social Security Card

Linda Collins – October 11, 2019

Your Social Security Number is wholly unique. Assigned at birth, no one but you has ever had that specific number, and no one but you will ever have that number again. It is a crucial part of your identity within the framework of the United States, and if your Social Security Card gets stolen or misplaced in a mugging, a home invasion, or any other type of robbery which can lead to identity theft, it is essential that you act fast and follow these steps.

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Report It To The Police

If you see something, say something especially if you see it done to yourself. If you are a victim of any crime, you should report it to your local police in any case. If you are the victim of identity theft, you are going to have to freeze your Social Security Number. In order to qualify for a freeze free of charge, you are required to have a copy of the police report.

Apply For A New Social Security Card

Finally, once you have followed all of these steps completely, youll want to apply for a replacement card.This process can be tedious, so before we actually go into the details like when you need to go to your local SSA office and what original or copies of documents you need, were going to talk about one important issue.

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How To Protect Your Social Security Card Moving Forward

In general, these are some best practices to protect yourself from identity theft, particularly regarding your SS card and your SSN number:

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Let The Three Major Credit Bureaus Know

Need to Know How Do I Replace My Lost Social Security Card? Find out ...

Add a fraud alert to your credit report at the three major credit bureaus TransUnion®, Experian® and Equifax® if you are a victim of identity theft or you may be. This alert can help creditors take extra steps to confirm your identity before issuing new credit under your name. Signaling one agency alerts the other two automatically.

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How Can Thieves Profit From Stolen Social Security Cards

A stolen social security card could result in social security identity theft and fraud. Using your SSN, a cybercriminal could impersonate you and obtain a new driver’s license, birth certificate, and other legal documents. They could also take out new loans in your name, open bank and credit card accounts, and even rent property, making you responsible.

Requesting A Social Security Card For Your Child

Children are prone to losing things and, unfortunately, to identity theft. In fact, our child identity theft research showed that 14 percent of kids have had their identities stolen, which is a concern of over 70 percent of U.S. parents. To get your child a new SS card after it has been lost or stolen, youll need documents proving:

  • Your childs identity
  • Your childs U.S. citizenship, or immigration status if theyre not a U.S. citizen
  • Your custody of or relationship to the child

All of these documents must either be originals or certified copies by the issuing agency. Once youve collected all the necessary documents, complete an SS card application11 and mail it, along with the documents, to your local SSA office or card center.12 Within 10 business days from the date on the receipt, youll receive your childs new SS card.

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You Can Request Your Card Online Today

Sign in or create an account to submit your request

You can replace your card online and receive it in 14 days. You can also use your account to check the status of your request and manage other benefits you receive from us.

Trouble signing in?

Start the application online and visit your local SSA office for additional guidance for completing your application.

Prefer to talk to someone?

Contact your local SSA office.

You can start your Social Security number card application online. Once you’ve submitted your request, visit your local SSA office for additional guidance for completing your application. You will need to give us some of the information you provided again.

How Do Thieves Profit From Stolen Social Security Cards

How Do I Replace a Lost or Stolen SSN Card?

Identity thieves can use your SSN to apply for more credit in your name. Of course, the scammers never pay the bills, which can damage your credit, and cause you to get calls from unknown credit demanding payment for items you never bought. They may also place your Social Security number on the Dark Web to sell to other identity thieves.

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Check Your Credit Report Monthly

Checking your credit report is something you just have to do every month now. Despite all the other precautions youve taken and the paper trails youve started, a good way is to simply see for yourself. If anything seems amiss, make sure to contact both the company with the account as well as the agencies which report the credit.

Can You Put A Freeze On Your Social Security Number

Yes, you can place a freeze on your SSN. One option is to place a fraud alert on your SSN. This notifies the credit agencies that your SSN might be used illegally to commit fraud or other scams. However, people might still be able to open credit in your name. Placing a hard freeze on your SSN might be a better option. This prevents new credit from being opened in your name without very stringent identify verification taking place.

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