Social Security Number
Monitoring & Protection Services
Don’t let thieves steal your Social Security number (SSN)! IDShield offers professional Social Security number monitoring services to protect against identity theft & unauthorized use of your personal information.
We have identity theft protection plans to fit your needs.
Your Social Security matters
In a sense, your Social Security number is you: It’s how the government verifies your identity when you fill out health insurance forms or financial papers; you use it to vote or buy property or get a job; and when you die, so does your Social Security number.
In short, your Social Security number matters. Which means you need to do everything you can to keep it from falling into the hands of cyber criminals and fraudsters.
Luckily, there are ways to protect your Social Security number online. Below we’ll go over the basics: Who can get at your social security number, how you can protect it, and why you want to be diligent about keeping this most sensitive of sensitive personal information out of the wrong hands.
Some purposes for your Social Security number
Your Social Security number is important for any number of reasons, such as:
- Obtaining credit
- Opening a bank account
- Applying for a federal loan
- Applying for certain types of public assistance
- Enrolling in Medicare or private insurance
- Buying a home or a car
- Obtaining a driver’s license
- Applying for a passport
It’s one of the most vital, sensitive pieces of information you have.
Why would someone want to steal your SSN?
Identity thieves want your Social Security number essentially so they can commit fraud and steal money. They do this by using your Social Security number in a variety of different ways. You’ll want to recognize identity theft techniques such as:
Social Security number monitoring is important, to say the least.
How do Social Security numbers get stolen?
The most common ways SSNs are stolen:
Dumpster Diving
Thieves have been known to go through people’s trash to look for bills and other discarded papers with personal information on it.
Hacking
They can exploit weakness in a computer system either easily through unsecured Wi-Fi networks (think coffee shops) or more elaborate breaches into semi-secured websites.
Phishing
Thieves pretending to be financial institutions (your bank, PayPal, etc.) or popular regularly-used companies try to get you to reveal your personal information.
Pretexting
Getting personal information under false pretenses and then selling it to other people or the dark web is a favorite tactic of cyber thieves.
Stuffing
Creating false websites that look like commonly used websites in order to obtain login and other personal information is increasingly common.
Stealing
Thieves steal wallets, purses and personal records, or bribe employees who have access to mail—which includes bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, and tax information—in order to get as thorough a dossier on you as possible.
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How to protect your Social Security number with identity monitoring
Worried that your personal information has been compromised? Looking for ways to level up your identity theft protection and keep your Social Security number and other valuable data safe?
Identity monitoring may be the answer.
IDShield works by scanning and monitoring your personal identifying information (PII) and sending you a fraud alert when there is any unusual activity. To protect your Social Security number and other PII, IDShield monitors:
- Purposes for your Social Security number
- Change of address requests
- Court or arrest records
- Orders for new utility, cable, or wireless services
- Payday loan applications
- Check cashing requests
- Social media
- Websites that identity thieves use to trade stolen information
Don’t let cyber criminals get the jump on you. IDShield is here to keep you and your information safe.
Purposes for your Social Security number
- Change of address requests
- Court or arrest records
- Orders for new utility, cable, or wireless services
- Payday loan applications
- Check cashing requests
- Social media
- Websites that identity thieves use to trade stolen information
Explore plan features
IDShield offers protection against more than just identity theft. We also offer complete privacy and reputation management services to help keep your online identity and personal information private.
Over half of consumers will experience identity theft each year
If you experience identity theft, it can take an average of six months to restore your identity. Protect yourself now and avoid the stress that comes with handling identity theft and fraud.
Learn how IDShield can help protect sensitive personal information
FAQs
Find answers to our most frequently asked questions.
What can someone do with your Social Security number?
Someone who steals your Social Security number has access to all manner of facts about you: Your date of birth, where you live, your tax returns and banking information, and so on. Someone in possession of that information can drain your bank account and those of your family. They can take out loans in your name, apply for high-interest credit cards, sign up for Medicaid or Medicare, and generally pull your financial house down.
How do I check to see if someone is using my Social Security number?
You can check for Social Security number theft by looking up your credit report. If your score has dropped, you may want to examine your monthly bills to make sure they’ve continued to be paid. Check your bank account and call customer service if you notice any strange charges.
Can you put a freeze on your Social Security number?
You can request to “Block Electronic Access” to your Social Security number by calling the Social Security Administration’s National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).