Stolen Social Security Number

Social Security numbers are often among our most closely guarded secrets. At Sharmin & Sharmin, we understand how devastating a stolen social security number and identity can be. Not only does the stolen social security number potentially affect your eligibility for things like a mortgage, or car loan, but it can be a huge hassle to get everything locked back down or cleared out. When this happens, the support and help from an experienced Florida identity theft lawyer can be an unmatched positive addition.  

How Does Your Social Security Number Get Stolen 

Your social security number is a private piece of information. We tend to give it our sparingly and only as needed to reduce where it may be compromised. Sometimes, even if you have done everything ‘right,’ someone may still obtain your number for nefarious purposes. Some of the ways a person may steal your social security number without your permission are:

• Stolen wallet, purse, or mail that contains credit card statements, preapproval letters, checks, or tax information
• Stealing information that you enter on an unsecured website
• Stealing paperwork from garbage cans
• Purchasing your information from employees who may have access to it
• Phishing or other scams where an individual may pose as someone to who you would provide the information.

General caution when providing your social security number and declining to do so when you don’t have to can go a long way in protecting yourself.  Additionally, you can take a proactive step by regularly checking your credit report. This can help you catch issues sooner rather than later. You can get a free credit report annually from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax using resources provided by the Federal Trade Commission, putting you in control of your financial security. 

Securing or Replacing Your Social Security Number

When your social security number is out of your control, it can be difficult to secure your information again. Some steps you can take include notifying the reporting agencies and your financial institutions of the identity theft or fraud. Upon your request, they can place a fraud alert on your account. This alert will notify any financial institution or lender that there has been fraudulent activity when they do a credit check, allowing them to implement additional protocols to ensure you are responsible for the activity. 

If you don’t anticipate needing any additional accounts open, you may also freeze your account, which will stop any activity no matter what. When you implement a credit freeze, you can temporarily unfreeze it for a certain time if you need to apply for a mortgage or car loan. After a specified amount of time, the freeze will go back into place. 

In cases of prolonged trouble with your social security number, Social Security A may agree to issue a new number for you. However, in many cases, this does not necessarily make life easier. For example, if you are using a number not linked with your previous history, no credit may make obtaining loans or new lines of credit equally or more difficult. 

Recovering From a Stolen Social Security Number

While it certainly is possible to recover from a stolen social security number without the help of an attorney, it is not easy. Seeking legal support from Sharmin & Sharmin can leave you with peace of mind you may not otherwise have. The administrative workload for this kind of problem is extensive, and at the end of it, you may need to take further action to ensure the debt and effects on your credit score have been completely redacted, not just waived. If you attempt to handle the situation independently, ensure you document all contact with creditors, reporting agencies, and your financial institution.