Worried about identity theft? Blocking your social security number can help

Your sharing Personal numeric code it’s required when you apply for a job, file a tax return, or open a new credit card account. But if this nine-digit number is exposed in a data breachmay lead to some problems for you. Identity thieves getting their hands on your SSN i can use it for get a job in your namerack up credit card debt against your credit score and for steal your tax refund.

To stop cybercriminals in their tracks, you may want to block your social security number. Blocking access or “blocking” your SSN. it will make it extremely difficult for an identity thief to use your SSN for malicious actions. This, along with a credit freezecan help you prevent identity thieves and keep your identity safe.

Denying electronic access to your SSN can be inconvenient and extreme. But if you’ve experienced identity theft or your information personally identifiable information has been compromised in a recent data breach such as hacks Change healthcare or National public datablocking your SSN can protect you from future harm.

Read more: Social Security November 2024: Here’s When to Expect Your Check

How to Lock Your Social Security Number

There are two ways to block access to your number. of social security.

Call the Social Security Administration

You can contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Wait times are usually shorter in the morning and later in the week. Once you confirm your identity, the SSA will wave its magic wand and block electronic access to your number. SSN.

Create an E-Verify account

You can also create a MyE-Verify online account to lock your SSN and use the service self-locking feature. The lock will last for one year. But you’ll be warned 30 days before it expires, and you can extend the lock if you want.

This resource is helpful because many employers use E-Verify, a service administered by SSA and US Citizenship and Immigration Services, to verify your employment eligibility.

When you block your Social Security number, a company that wants to verify your SSN will not be able to verify your identity. This option is also useful if you don’t want to pick up the phone every time you want to unlock your SSN.

The downside of blocking your SSN

The main disadvantage of blocking your SSN will sound very familiar to anyone who has one credit freeze in effect. When you block access to your records SSN, restrict you too access to them. This means you’ll have to go through the trouble of unlocking it whenever you need a new employer to verify your eligibility to work in the US or want to receive government benefits.

This back and forth may be worth it for the people who have suffered identity theft at work and tax fraud. For additional protection against tax identity theft, you can create a identity protection pin with the IRS to prevent someone else from filing a tax return with your SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

What is the difference between a SSN freeze and a credit freeze?

A credit freeze is different than a Social Security number lock, although both are free. One blocks access to your recording. Social Security online, while a credit freeze denies access to your reports. of credit. to perform a credit freezeyou will need to contact all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) to stop anyone from creating new credit accounts in your name.

Will blocking my SSN protect me from identity theft?

The answer here is rather unsatisfying: it might. Blocking your number Social Security can prevent identity theft or prevent a criminal from collecting government benefits on your behalf. But it won’t prevent all forms of identity theft. As an extra precaution, you should share your number. social security only when absolutely necessary and never to an unsolicited call or text message.

It’s also a good idea to monitor your financial accounts and credit reports for any unusual activity. If you’d rather have a service do this for you, you can sign up for a credit monitoring service or one Protection against identity theft service. You can often sign up for credit monitoring to keep an eye on your credit reports. Identity theft protection often includes credit monitoring, as well as dark web monitoring and alerts if your information is compromised in a data breach. If your identity is compromised, identity theft protection can help you recover it through white glove restoration services.

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For added security, you can freeze your credit with Experian, TransUnion and Equifax to prevent identity thieves from opening new lines of credit in your name. I did this recently and found the process surprisingly easy.