How Do You Apply For A Social Security Number

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Safeguarding your Social Security number is one of the best identity protection steps that you can take. Unfortunately, even the most careful individuals fall victim to identity thieves. According to the team at the Insurance Information Institute, there were nearly 5 million cases of identity theft in 2020. Discovering that your Social Security number may be exposed is overwhelming, but there are a few steps you must take immediately to freeze your SSN and protect yourself.

Reasons for Freezing a Social Security Number

The main reason for freezing Social Security numbers is if you suspect that it has been jeopardized. This can be through a security breach at an institution that stores private information, losing your wallet with your Social Security card inside or even by a thief rifling through papers in the trash.

Freezing your Social Security number prevents lenders from running credit checks, which in turn prevents anyone from opening a new account using your information. Opening new accounts and reaching the maximum spending limit is one of the main reasons why criminals want Social Security numbers in the first place.

When you freeze your Social Security number, it makes it essentially useless to these lawbreakers. It can prevent unimaginable damage to your credit score and a lot of stress later on.

Freezing Your Social Security Number

If you suspect your identity has been endangered, you must take action. One of the first things to do is freeze your Social Security number, according to the writers at E-Verify.

First, you'll need to create an account on E-Verify, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Once you do, follow the prompts to freeze your SSN. Then, file a police report. Immediately after freezing, contact the authorities. Having the report filed protects you from further harm and opens an investigation.

Next, you'll want to contact the three credit bureaus to report your SSN as stolen. These are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Once you have taken these three crucial steps, monitor activity on all accounts closely and follow up with any investigations. You may also consider hiring a private agency to help undo any damage and restore normal activity. You can keep your SNN frozen, and some people do out of an abundance of caution. It's free to freeze and then unfreeze the number when you want to open a new account.

Tips for the Best Identity Protection

The best solution for a stolen identity is to prevent it from happening to you in the first place. You should always monitor your credit closely. You can accomplish this by enrolling in a service that alerts you to any changes or activity associated with your Social Security number.

In addition, check all of your current accounts frequently for suspicious activity. Be very cautious when releasing your Social Security number; never give it out over the phone or email unless you initiated the contact with a known entity. Be skeptical of requests for your information. Many people become victims of identity theft after falling for a scam.

Be suspicious of anyone contacting you, even if they say they're from a company you trust. In addition, be careful to shred all your mail containing account information or other personal data. Check your mailbox, and be sure to shred all credit offers. Whatever you do, always safeguard all personal information, and take action as soon as you suspect that something is wrong.