Furthermore, there is a thriving underground market for stolen data on the dark web. Cybercriminals who have successfully acquired SSNs through various means can sell them to interested buyers. These buyers may be identity thieves, individuals looking to assume a false identity, or even organized criminal groups seeking to commit financial fraud.
Lock Your SSN
Commonly breached data includes your personal addresses, passwords and email, he added. Criminals often use stolen SSNs to file fraudulent tax returns and claim refunds. If your phone number or email address is on the dark web you are likely to experience an increase in spam, scams and phishing attacks. Cybercriminals can also use your phone number and email to find more information using people search sites.
A cybercriminal group called “USDoD” exposed a database owned by National Public Data, a background check company, on a dark web forum. The dark web is a hidden part of the internet where cybercriminals sell stolen data. If your SSN is found there, it means your personal information has been compromised, likely due to a data breach or phishing attack. Some credit cards offer credit monitoring and will send you an alert if a new credit line is opened in your name or if your balance changes significantly. Being notified that your information has been found in a data breach or on the dark web, as its name suggests, shouldn’t be taken lightly.
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However, Bleeping Computer reported that the file was later leaked for free on a hacker forum, as noted above. The company added that it is working with law enforcement and government investigators. NPD said it “will try to notify you if there are further significant developments applicable to you.” And you have not mentioned if any fraudulent activity has resulted from the SSN being seen. Have you been hacked on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok or another popular social media app?
It’s difficult to remove your information from the dark web because it’s unregulated. Even if law enforcement is able to take down a marketplace that’s selling your information, cybercriminals can simply upload it somewhere else. Cybercriminals use marketplaces on the dark web to sell and trade personal information. This information can be used to steal your identity, target you with scams, and commit other crimes against you. You should also add an extra layer of protection to your accounts by enabling 2FA wherever possible.
What To Do If You Suspect Your Social Security Number Has Been Stolen
Since they obfuscate their activities using your name, this digital footprint would be tracked to you. If fraudsters are using your stolen SSN, it will most likely show up on your credit reports and bank or credit card statements. If your SSN has been leaked, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your financial accounts.
Employment Fraud
- If your SSN has been compromised, you’ll want to keep close tabs on your financial accounts to ensure they haven’t been illegally accessed.
- Personal information is more valuable when it comes in large datasets, and hackers are more likely to use it as ransom to obtain money from breached companies.
- The Experian Smart Money™ Debit Card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB), pursuant to a license from Mastercard International.
- Imagine receiving a notification from Lifelock or your credit card company informing you that your social security number has been discovered on the dark web.
By keeping tabs on your Social Security benefits, you can ensure no one is getting what is yours. Consider an SSN monitoring tool like Aura to alert you if your personal information is being illegally used. If your email was found on the Dark Web, you could be at risk of identity theft or fraud. Once you’ve updated your passwords, you should enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on each of your accounts.
Proven Ways For Online Gamers To Avoid Cyber Attacks And Scams
When there’s a fraud alert on your report, creditors can see that you might be the victim of identity theft and are instructed to verify your identity or contact you before extending credit in your name. Due to the prevalence of data breaches and other cyber threats, SSNs are a highly sought after commodity on the dark web. It’s crucial for individuals and organizations to take proactive steps to protect their personal information and prevent the unauthorized access and distribution of SSNs. Experian’s free credit monitoring service is one easy way to stay alert. It tracks changes to your credit report and helps you spot potential identity theft early, so you’re not the last to know when something goes wrong.
Set Transaction Limits On Your Bank Accounts And Credit Cards
Formally reporting the SSN compromise is an important step in the recovery process. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers a centralized resource at IdentityTheft.gov to file an identity theft report. This online portal guides you through the process, asking for details and providing a personalized recovery plan. The FTC Identity Theft Report serves as official documentation for disputing fraudulent charges or accounts.
Keep A Close Watch On Your Credit Cards
Stay vigilant and continue to monitor your financial statements and credit reports regularly for any signs of unauthorized activity. When your Social Security number is available on the dark web, it gives cybercriminals the ability to open credit accounts in your name. In other words, someone other than you can take out personal loans, apply for credit cards, or open other financial accounts under your name. One way to make sure people don’t have access to your credit is to freeze it. When you freeze your credit, you prevent fraudsters from accessing your credit file.
Freeze Your Credit Reports
You also have the right to add a security freeze to your credit reports from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. This is also called freezing your credit, and it can be a simple and free way to keep someone from opening new credit accounts in your name. I got an email from Discover credit card (I have a Discover card and they do free monitoring) saying “We found your SSN on a Dark Web site”. The email said to put a fraud alert on my Experian credit file and also review my credit report. Does anyone have any experience with this – is this legit or is there a better process to follow? The dark web serves as a marketplace for cybercriminals to trade and sell stolen personal information, including Social Security numbers (SSNs).
Finally, if your SSN is on the dark web, it means that it’s also probably floating around on the regular internet as well. This means that anyone who knows where to look could potentially find it and use it to take over your financial life. If someone has your SSN, they can use it to open new credit lines or apply for loans in your name. This can ruin your credit score and leave you with thousands of dollars in debt. This code is usually sent to your phone via text message, so even if someone knows your password, they won’t be able to access your account without also having your phone.
