How Can I Find Out If Someone Is Using My Social Security Number?

Do You Think Scammers Have Your SSN?

If scammers have your Social Security number (SSN), they can steal your identity and open bank accounts, get payday loans from questionable lenders, or receive unemployment benefits in your name. Unfortunately, SSN theft and misuse are real threats for nearly every American. 

In early August 2024, hackers released sensitive information stolen during the National Public Data (NPD) breach, including 272 million distinct U.S. Social Security numbers [*].

It’s no longer a matter of whether your SSN has been leaked, but when identity thieves will use it — and if you’ll find out in time to protect your identity. 

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How To Check If Someone Is Using Your Social Security Number

Social Security identity theft can have significant consequences — ranging from damaged credit scores to criminal charges filed against you if scammers use your stolen identity to commit crimes — so it’s imperative that you act quickly if you think someone is using your SSN. 

But it’s not always easy to know if you’ve been a victim of SSN theft until after criminals have already used your SSN. The more proactive you are about checking for SSN misuse (or leaks), the better. 

You can start by using one of the safe NPD breach checkers from Pentester or NPDBreach.com to see if your SSN was leaked in the recent data breach (but don’t enter your SSN). 

Then, take the following steps recommended by the Social Security Administration (SSA):

1. Review your Social Security statement

Your Social Security statement details your earnings record and your Social Security benefits. If scammers have used your SSN to gain illegal employment or take out benefits in your name, it will show up here. 

Your statement is provided by the SSA, and is available by mail or via your my Social Security account [*].

• Create an online SSA account and order your Social Security Statement. You can create an account at ssa.gov/myaccount to view your statement online. Alternatively, you can print, complete, and send Form SSA-7004 to submit your request by mail. However, this method can take 4–6 weeks.
• Review your personal information for unauthorized changes or inaccuracies. Your statement should list your name and date of birth, but criminals may change the information if they have access. So if you see any unexpected changes, this could be a red flag. ‍
• Examine all financial data. Check your details and all reported earnings, benefits, and taxes to confirm they match your expectations based on your job and income. Also, look carefully for any errors associated with your earnings and taxes paid, as fraudsters use stolen SSNs to evade or misrepresent their taxes.

2. Examine your credit reports for fraudulent activity

Most scammers use stolen SSNs (and other personal data) to open new accounts and credit cards, or to take out loans in their victims’ names. One of the only places you can check for this type of financial fraud is on your credit report. 

• Order your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Every American is entitled to a free copy of their credit reports from all three of the major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) each week, online or by calling 1-877-322-8228.
• Review your personal information. Scammers may change your contact information on your credit file to prevent you from receiving fraud alerts or seeing other warning signs. Make sure that each of your credit accounts lists your current phone number and address, as well as your correct name, date of birth, and SSN. 
• Check your credit history for suspicious activity. Review the statuses of your accounts to ensure that no tampering has occurred. You should be especially cautious with any unrecognized hard inquiries, which signal that a financial institution or other credit provider has checked your accounts in anticipation of providing new credit. These inquiries can also impact your credit score.

📚 Related: How To Read a Credit Report (and Dispute Errors) →

3. Don’t ignore junk mail or communications from debt collectors

You can spot signs of identity theft in the early stages if you’re keeping a close watch on all of your mail and incoming phone calls. By taking a curious approach to find out why you’re getting mail, calls, or visits from debt collectors, you can find out if your SSN is at risk before it’s too late.

• Query unfamiliar bills. Strange bills in your name (or someone else's) that are sent to your address could tip you off to fraudulent activity. Rather than discarding these letters, call the company issuing them to investigate. In particular, watch out for credit offers, which typically come to your mailbox after someone has set up a new credit account or filed a credit application in your name.
• Validate alleged debts. When asked, legitimate debt collectors need to provide a validation notice that explains and proves the debt is owed [*]. If debt collection agencies are pestering you about unfamiliar bills in your name, you can request a validation notice to find out everything known about the debt.
• Opt out of junk mail. By reducing the amount of junk mail you receive, you decrease the chances of fraud slipping under your radar. Visit optoutprescreen.com (which is run by the three major credit bureaus), or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT to opt out of prescreened credit and insurance offers. You can also visit dmachoice.org to manage offers sent via direct mail.

4. Follow up on notices from the IRS and other government agencies

If scammers use your SSN to create an account in your name, file a tax return, or misappropriate your health insurance, you could receive a notification from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or another government agency. 

Never ignore unexpected communications from government agencies — as this is a clear warning sign of identity theft. 

• Contact the IRS. You should immediately notify the IRS if you believe someone is using your SSN to gain employment, get your tax refund, or commit other abuses involving taxes. In some cases, the IRS will notify you of potential fraud first by sending an identity theft letter [*]. Make sure you respond to these notices quickly, either by calling the number on the letter or by using the IRS’ online portal.
• Review your Medicare claims. Look through your online account, Medicare Summary Notice, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), and verify all claims [*]. If you see a fraudulent claim, submit a complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General [*].

📚 Related: How To Protect Yourself Against Tax Fraud →

5. Do your due diligence to see if you’re at risk after data breaches

If your SSN is leaked in a data breach, knowing you’re at risk can give you a headstart before hackers or scammers target you. An SSN monitoring service and free Dark Web scanners can help you check to see if someone is using your Social Security number before they do too much damage.

• Check your data exposure with a free Dark Web scanner. Tools like HaveIBeenPwned and Aura’s free Dark Web scanner let you check if your email address, phone number, or passwords are at risk after a breach. You can also find out if any companies with which you hold an account have been compromised. 
• Sign up for an SSN monitoring service. These services inform you right away that suspicious activity is taking place — allowing you to stop fraud before it causes harm. Aura's AI-powered service checks billions of data points in its monitoring process [*].
• Opt for immediate alerts. If someone uses your SSN to create a new account or credit file in your name, you need to know about it right away. Aura sends you alerts in near real-time, giving you the opportunity to shut down fraudsters quickly.

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Is Someone Using Your SSN? Here’s What To Do

Generally, a proactive approach is the best defense — you should never share your SSN with anyone you can't verify. But if a thief already has your SSN, you need to cut off access to your accounts and identity immediately.

Here’s what to do if someone is using your SSN:

• Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to block electronic access to your SSN. Do this immediately after you confirm or suspect someone is using your SSN. Once you place the block, nobody can modify your personal information with the Social Security Administration online or through the automated phone service — not even you. You’ll need to call the SSA again and verify your identity when you wish to remove the block.
• Freeze your credit with all three bureaus. A credit freeze stops thieves from using your SSN to take out loans and lines of credit or open credit cards in your name. You need to initiate a credit freeze with each of the three credit reporting agencies individually — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. 
• Review your credit report and bank statements for instances of fraud. You'll need a record of evidence for all fraudulent activity, such as unrecognized credit card account and bank account numbers, plus unfamiliar hard inquiries and changes to your personal profile details.
• File an official identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Complete an affidavit online at IdentityTheft.gov to receive a personalized recovery plan. An FTC affidavit is also required in most cases when you want to dispute fraudulent charges or prove that you’re the victim of identity theft. 
• Contact your local law enforcement. If your SSN has been used in a crime or you know the person who used it, contact your local police department to file a police report. Bring your government-issued ID, a copy of your FTC report, and supporting evidence of the fraud.
• Submit a Social Security fraud report with the SSA's Office of the Inspector General [*]. The SSA OIG has specialized resources and expertise to investigate Social Security-related fraud, which local police or the FTC may not have. If the identity theft affects your Social Security benefits or account, you should notify the OIG to aid the overall investigation and protect yourself against future fraud. You can submit a report online or do so by calling 1-800-269-0271.

The bottom line: Using a compromised SSN is one of the easiest ways for scammers to make you a victim of identity theft. If you think someone is using your SSN, or that it’s been leaked or stolen, act quickly to protect yourself. 

📚 Related: 8 Reasons Why It's Important To Have Identity Theft Protection →

Stay Proactive to Safeguard Your SSN. Aura Can Help.

While technically you can change your SSN, getting a new Social Security number isn’t always an option (and can cause serious issues with your credit score and history). A proactive approach to protecting your SSN is the smarter approach. 

Here’s a few ways to stay ahead of SSN scammers:

• Claim your my Social Security account on the Social Security Administration (SSA) website. This step prevents fraudsters from claiming your account and doing further damage.
• “Self Lock” your SSN on the E-Verify website. When employers check a locked SSN on the E-Verify site, it will send an alert signaling potential fraud. 
• Don’t give out your SSN over the phone or via suspicious emails. Never give your SSN to anyone you can't verify. Scammers can spoof email addresses, phone numbers, and even voices. 
• Keep your Social Security card in a safe place at home. Consider storing your Social Security card somewhere secure in your house (such as in a locked safe), which will prevent accidental loss and theft. 

Even if your information wasn’t compromised in the recent NPD hack, there’s still a very good chance that some of your personally identifiable information (PII) is exposed online. 

Aura’s digital security suite monitors and protects your SSN, personal information, and financial accounts 24/7 with three-bureau credit monitoring, Dark Web monitoring, and the industry’s fastest fraud alerts³. In the event that you fall victim, you’ll have access to Aura’s round-the-clock White Glove Fraud Resolution support, along with $1 million in identity theft insurance coverage.

Keep your SSN safe from scammers. Try Aura’s identity monitoring free for 14 days.