How Can I Find Out Someone's Social Security Number

Your Social Security number is one of the almost of import and personal pieces of information you take. One of these unique 9-digit numbers is given to every American at nascence or at the time they obtain U.S. citizenship. It's a vital detail that can help you keep track of your earnings, open up new lines of credit and use as identification, among many other activities.

Because it's and then personal and tied specifically to you, however, your Social Security number isn't something you want only anyone getting admission to. After obtaining it, someone could use it to impersonate you, steal your identity or enter into financial transactions that create unnecessary hardship for you.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts at keeping your Social Security number (SSN) safe, it might end up in the wrong hands. If you doubtable your SSN has been stolen, it's vital to take the right steps to protect yourself. The following tips tin can assist you become dorsum on track if you're dealing with a stolen number or similar identity-theft situation.

There are a few red flags to lookout man for that can signal someone'due south gotten ahold of your SSN and used it. One sign is that your credit score drops without any plausible caption. Another is that your bank business relationship has mysterious charges or withdrawals. You also may see suspicious emails or mail make it at your home.

It'due south important to accept notation of these occurrences and investigate them further, not write them off. You may observe it helpful to sign up with a credit-monitoring plan offered by one of the main credit bureaus to keep tabs on your score. Also, try to become into the addiction of regularly checking your bank balances online and reviewing new transactions to ensure you were the 1 who made them.

Some other popular scam happens when thieves steal someone's SSN and utilize information technology to go a chore or receive a paycheck. If this happens, you may start to receive mailed notices from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It'southward important to note that the IRS will never call y'all. If you get a phone telephone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, this is likely a scam, and yous shouldn't divulge any personal information. You may, however, first to receive calls from credit agencies or debt collectors notifying you almost accounts that are past due, and these may be legitimate calls. These fraudulent accounts may accept been opened in your name without your noesis.

If yous've confirmed with the IRS or a credit bureau that someone has used your SSN fraudulently, the following steps can help you protect yourself.

To kicking off the identity-theft recovery process, you need to contact the Social Security Administration to written report the fraud and brainstorm creating a record of your identity theft. The Social Security Administration may direct you to the Federal Trade Commission'south (FTC) reporting website. You can visit the site directly at identitytheft.org.

On the website, showtime by filing fraud and incident reports, which will include some basic information about the incident and what happened. From there, the site offers suggestions about what to do side by side. Depending on the specifics of your situation, you may need to report the theft to a landlord or credit card company, and you might too need to get a new SSN altogether. The FTC's website offers a footstep-by-step guide that includes links to file reports and initiate the recovery procedure.

File a Police Report

To begin documenting your identity theft, the Social Security Administration may want y'all to provide a record of the theft that information technology can later utilize while investigating your example. You can file a police written report in your local community to legally document the crimes of fraud. This is also used later on if any legal activeness is taken. Keep in listen that your local constabulary section may not investigate the crime. Withal, y'all'll need a legal tape to assist reclaim your identity or get a new Social Security number.

The Social Security Administration allows y'all to receive a new SSN under certain circumstances. One example is if you're in immediate danger or existence threatened in a domestic abuse situation. Another is if your SSN has been stolen.

To begin the process of obtaining a new SSN through the Social Security Administration, yous'll need to provide a written statement outlining what happened to you and why yous need a new number. In addition to your statement, you'll also need to provide legal documents backing upwardly your statements; these can include your police written report.

You will as well need to fill out the SS-5 form. This is the aforementioned course you lot or your parents filled out when you were born or that y'all filled out when you became a citizen. This form includes a series of questions about your previous SSN filing. Y'all'll note on this form if you previously filed when you lot became a citizen or provide the names of your parents, who filed on your behalf.

In add-on, y'all too demand to provide documentation showing your U.Southward. citizenship, age, legal residence, identity and existing SSN. If you've ever changed your name, you'll need to submit documentation of this. If yous inverse your name when yous got married, for instance, you could submit your marriage license to satisfy this requirement.

Telephone call the IRS Protection Unit and Check on Tax Filings

In addition to contacting and filing documentation with the Social Security Administration, you lot as well desire to notify the IRS about the fraud. This is an of import pace in preventing anyone from filing a fake taxation return in your name to merits your tax refund. You tin bank check to run into if anyone has already used your name to file a fraudulent tax render on the IRS website by checking your transcripts. In addition to using the tool on the IRS website, y'all can also call the IRS at 1-800-908-9946 or make full out an IRS 4506-T form to get a copy of your taxation filing transcripts in the mail.

Set Upwardly Fraud Alerts

Every bit shortly every bit you learn that identity theft has happened to you, you lot'll want to ready up fraud alerts through your bank and credit card companies. This improves the likelihood that you'll discover any new charges or suspicious activity on your credit report early on. Many banks already offer these services, just you may have to enroll in your banking company's specific programme to activate them. You tin also set custom alerts for purchases over a certain amount. If your bank or credit card's online arrangement supports it, you may be able to receive notifications through email or text on all your processed financial activities and transactions — just to be safe.

After you lot've experienced identity theft, notify all banks and credit bill of fare companies where you lot take open accounts. Notify lenders, too. You can do this over the phone or through their websites. You'll likewise need to inform the company or companies where the fraud took place, if possible.

Next, you should put a freeze on your credit, which ways no one tin can open whatsoever new accounts in your name — this goes for you as well. You'll need to unfreeze your account when you feel comfortable or when you're ready to brand a big purchase. Learn more than almost freezing your credit here.

To go on an eye on your financial activity, download a complimentary copy of your credit study from the 3 major credit bureaus. You tin exercise this one time a year through the Federal Trade Commission at annualcreditreport.com.