what to do if a scammer has the last four of your social

You Won't Believe What Hackers Can Do With Your SSN

A stolen Social Security number can affect your credit, finances and even your health.

T-Mobile announced in August that the names, Social Security numbers and other personal information of about fifty million people who did business with the cell phone carrier had been compromised in a data breach.

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Earlier, in April, it was the School of Medicine at Stanford Academy that confirmed hackers had leaked stolen personal data obtained via a compromised file transfer organisation, part of a bigger alienation that impacted other health systems in the U.Southward.

Another month, some other piece of bad news. While we've grown accustomed to hearing nearly hacking, yous even so might be amazed and appalled by the many ways a scammer can fraudulently employ your Social Security number.

Discover some of the awful — only very real — consequences that might happen if your SSN gets stolen, and learn how to forbid or deal with these worst-case scenarios.

Last updated: Oct. 14, 2021

Hackers tin can use your SSN to get credit cards in your proper noun.

"The of import thing for people to understand is that once someone has your Social Security number, particularly in combination with your name and address, they can do pretty much anything that requires your SSN," said Brian Focht, an attorney and caput of the Law Offices of Brian C. Focht in Charlotte, Northward Carolina, who lists cybersecurity and privacy police force among his exercise areas.

Focht said that fraudulently obtaining credit cards is by far the well-nigh mutual SSN scam that he sees in his do. Information technology is possible for a hacker to go a credit carte du jour with simply your name, accost and Social Security number. Once the credit cards are in place, fraudsters can run up a lot of debt.

Generally speaking, criminals aim to get the most they can with the to the lowest degree effort, Focht said. In his view, keeping your SSN condom requires 2 things: agreement and implementing security best practices, and luck.

"The best that anyone tin do these days is be suspicious about anyone/anything that asks for personal information," Focht said. "If it doesn't seem right, it'south probably not. Beyond that, there'due south only a lot that is way out of anyone's control."

Pro tip: If you lot suspect someone has opened a credit menu in your name, Focht said your first calls should be to the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Don't just contact one — telephone call all iii.

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They can utilise your SSN to open up a phone account in your name.

It'southward like shooting fish in a barrel for criminals to open a phone business relationship in your name if they take your name, address and SSN, Focht said. One of his clients learned that her SSN had been stolen when she received a Verizon Wireless neb. Information technology turned out that someone had opened an account in her proper name, then purchased several expensive phones, charging them to the account.

"What was peculiarly irksome in her case was that the accounts were opened using an address the customer hadn't lived at for more than a decade," Focht said.

Pro tip: Focht said that phone companies usually take fraud departments to deal with stolen services. Immediately allow the section know what is going on, and then follow up with a letter. You lot might need to send a copy of that alphabetic character to the credit agencies if the upshot shows up on your credit report.

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They tin use your SSN to claim your tax refund.

In 2020, well-nigh 170 million people filed tax returns for tax year 2019, including traditional not-filers who submitted data to get their economic impact payments. That year, the Internal Revenue Service issued about 126 meg refunds, accounting for about 74% of all filers. The boilerplate refund was $2,549.

Then, imagine the daze if — rather than that long-awaited check — yous instead received notice that someone else already filed a return in your name and received your tax refund.

This tin happen if a scammer gets your name and SSN and merely files a render in your name. While your best bet is to keep your SSN private, both the IRS and Federal Merchandise Committee can help you if this happens.

Pro tip: At that place are many things you tin can do to help protect your revenue enhancement refund. Learn to recognize phishing emails seeking your personal information and calls from scammers posing as your bank, credit card company or the IRS. No bank, taxing authority or responsible business organisation typically asks for your SSN online. Care for whatsoever such request equally a scam.

They tin use your SSN to get a driver'due south license in your name.

When asked for a photograph identity, you are probable to whip out your commuter's license. It is accepted as proof of who you are, where you alive and how old you lot are. And then if an identity thief is able to obtain a driver's license in your name, it opens many fraudulent doors.

To get a driver'southward license, you generally have to pass a written test, a driving examination and an eye exam, and provide your name, accost and SSN. A hacker might be able to go a driver's license in your proper name without you fifty-fifty knowing it.

Pro tip: If you believe that your name and Social Security number were used to obtain a fraudulent driver's license, immediately contact your state Department of Motor Vehicles. Alarm signs could be traffic tickets issued in states you have never visited or warrants for your arrest you know nothing near.

Related: Are Social Security Benefits Taxable?

They tin use your SSN to open a bank account in your name.

If you recall dorsum to when you opened your first bank account, y'all'll remember that the banking concern didn't require much information other than your name, address and SSN. That means that anyone with your SSN tin can easily open a bank account in your name, especially if the identity thief already obtained a driver's license in your proper name.

Why would someone want to open a depository financial institution account in your name? Yous can be certain information technology is not to add to your savings. The hacker could employ it as a landing spot for transfers from your legitimate bank business relationship.

Pro tip: The minute you suspect your SSN has been stolen, call the fraud departments of the three credit reporting agencies and place a fraud alert on your file. This tells creditors to call you before they open whatever new accounts in your name.

Information technology's also disquisitional to keep on top of your money. Using an online banking app makes information technology easier to monitor your business relationship.

They can use your SSN to drain your existing bank accounts.

Identity hackers besides can employ your stolen SSN to dip into any of your existing bank accounts. Armed with that knowledge, they only tin can transfer money.

If they hacked your SSN, they might have obtained your passwords and the answers to secret security questions, too, such as your mother'southward maiden proper name. The bleed on your accounts might exist gradual — or you lot might wake upward to discover your entire savings gone. Hackers also have begun to employ apps such every bit Zelle to transfer money illegally.

Pro tip: It's of import to protect yourself from hackers and scammers. Monitor your banking concern business relationship on a daily ground to place the slightest unfamiliar withdrawal or other changes to the business relationship. The earlier you lot catch the fraud, the easier it volition be to deal with it.

They tin can employ your SSN to claim your Social Security check.

Although you are regularly asked to apply your SSN for identification, its primary purpose is linked to your Social Security benefits. The government keeps rails of your earnings and your Social Security revenue enhancement payments with your SSN, and yous need it in lodge to claim Social Security retirement or disability benefits.

For instance, if you are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits simply have opted to wait until you achieve full retirement age, a hacker with your SSN could apply for those benefits in your proper noun. Because Social Security benefits are normally deposited directly into a bank account, yous might non even discover this until you lot attempt to use for benefits years downward the road.

Pro tip: It'due south a good idea to check your Social Security business relationship in one case or twice a year to make sure everything looks as it should. If you believe that a scammer is using your SSN to collect your Social Security benefits, call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271.

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They can use your SSN to get a loan in your name.

Steven J.J. Weisman, author of "Identity Theft Alert: ten Rules You Must Follow to Protect Yourself from America's #one Offense," said that one of the worst things an identity thief tin practice with your Social Security number is to obtain a loan in your name. To do this, the hacker would showtime need to use your SSN to access your credit reports. And so, using the data, an identity thief could go a loan in your proper name — and never pay information technology back.

This is non only bad for your credit, Weisman said, but information technology tin besides bear upon your ability to get a job, rent an apartment, get insurance or obtain a loan. All of these things often depend on having a skillful credit report.

If this type of fraud happens to you, you need to contact the lender involved, the police and the FTC. The issue can be difficult and time-consuming to prepare.

Pro tip: Weisman said it's easier to safeguard your SSN than information technology is to repair ruined credit afterwards someone has stolen it.

"You should non conduct your Social Security number in your wallet or purse," he said. "Yous should not provide it as an identifying number to everyone who asks for it. Many places ask for it only don't need it by police."

The lesson here: Ever inquire if your SSN is really needed.

They can use your SSN to receive medical treatment under your insurance.

Medical records typically lay out a patient's complete identity, according to CNBC — which means that if there's a breach affecting healthcare systems, hackers can do a lot with what they've stolen. That includes accessing your medical insurance.

Weisman said scammers can incur large medical bills in your proper noun that might not exist covered by your medical insurance. In that instance, you'll be hounded by drove companies for payment. This volition definitely hurt your credit score.

Pro tip: Weisman said you demand to stay on top of your medical records. "But as y'all should regularly bank check your credit report, you lot also should regularly check your medical records to make sure that there are not mistakes," he said.

Today, near medical providers take online records simply not all do. Ask your provider how all-time to review your records.

They can use your SSN to identify themselves when picked upwardly for criminal activeness.

In some types of SSN fraud, you, the victim, tin can get arrested and thrown in jail. This could happen if the SSN thief commits a crime and uses your proper name and SSN to identify himself when apprehended. Weisman said this scenario becomes fifty-fifty worse when the hacker posts bail and then doesn't bear witness upward for the hearing.

"In that issue, criminal charges volition be on record against the identity theft victim (you), who will have difficulty straightening this out," said Weisman, an attorney who includes identity theft as part of his practice.

Pro tip: If yous practice go a victim of this type of fraud, Weisman said you should contact the credit reporting agencies and need they remove the false data from your credit report. You also should file a criminal complaint for identity theft with the local constabulary and then that it is a thing of record.

Find Out More: How To Fix a Mistake on Your Credit Report

They tin can utilise your SSN to pay for their utilities.

For a customer to use their services, it's pretty standard for utility companies to ask for your Social Security number as a manner to check your credit history, co-ordinate to the FTC. But this just means there'southward another opportunity for a hacker to get your personal information and unfairly wreak havoc on your finances. Once your SSN lands in the hands of hackers, they can freely open utility services under your name for their personal use. You might not see any signs of this until you receive a notice for a by due payment.

Pro tip: Earlier you mindlessly give out your SSN, take a moment to ask about the company's security policies and what measures are in identify to protect you lot and your SSN.

They can sell your identity to launch spam attacks.

Although it might seem as if credit cards and loans are the endgame for most hackers who steal your SSN, that's not always the case. Hackers also utilise your SSN to access information well-nigh you to sell.

According to an NPR report, some documents can sell for big money — and in that location was a large leap in toll from 2020 to 2021. Details about credit cards with business relationship balances of up to $one,000 tin can fetch the hacker $150, upward from $12 a yr ago. The fee goes upwards to $240 for data about accounts with balances as high every bit $5,000. Stolen online banking logos for accounts with a minimum balance of at to the lowest degree $2,000 go for $120.

Pro tip: Your SSN is precious, so endeavour to find an alternative before opting to give information technology out. Alternates could include your driver's license or an business relationship number.

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Jami Farkas contributed to the reporting for this article.

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