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With roughly 944 people affected in 2021 at the expense of over $6.3 million in Maryland alone, social security identity theft is a crime that affects thousands of people across the country each year. Your social security number is tied directly to your livelihood– your healthcare information, access to financial accounts, and almost all forms of secure personal data are at risk if your social security number is leaked.
Identity theft criminals use victims’ sensitive information to make purchases. However, once in possession of your data, like a social security number, they can also sell the information on the black market to others, open credit lines under your name, and sometimes attempt to receive medical care.
There are five common ways someone can get their social security number stolen alongside other personal information:
Many reputable companies already have your data, and some just aren’t careful enough with it. With so many large businesses and even some government agencies suffering data breaches, one major source of information for ID thieves is the businesses you do business with.
Unsecured, untrustworthy sites may contain code designed to gather your data, including email, IP address, and credit card information. When you visit a site requiring login credentials, ensure it’s secure by checking for the “HTTPS://” at the front of the URL. Be extremely careful whenever you follow a link to a website where you’re asked for financial information.
Although less talked about, physical theft is another way someone can steal your identity, and thieves can still use the information in your wallet and your mail for identity theft.
Phone or email scams from individuals pretending to be your bank, credit institution, or other business may attempt to steal your information via fraudulent interactions. When you receive an email from a strange address or a phone call from an unknown number, take it with a grain of salt. A good way to spot scams in phone calls or emails is to look for phony addresses, poor grammar, or even the use of threats if you do not comply with their requests.
Some scammers/criminals will pose as government organizations like the IRS or a Medicare representative to get your information. However, most of these scams rely on unsuspecting individuals who don’t know how to spot government impersonators. The Federal Trade Commission has issued some general rules to spot a government scam:
If you’re concerned that you’ve had your identity stolen, there are a few things you can do immediately:
Before anything, check for signs of identity theft by reviewing your credit reports and bank statements and checking with your insurance company for any inaccurate information.
When dealing with identity theft, contact any parties related to the information stolen. If you lost your wallet, contact your bank and credit card companies. If your mail was stolen or tampered with, contact the post office, and they will advise you on closing or pausing any accounts.
Contact your local social security office immediately if you receive a phone call, email, or text message that is a social security scam. They can advise you on handling the scam and provide you with contact information for the United States Office of the Inspector General.
If you suspect your account information has been stolen, or you know that a website you use has suffered a data breach, change your passwords as soon as possible.
Dealing with social security identity theft is an extremely stressful and taxing endeavor in which no one wants to find themselves. An experienced Identity theft lawyer can help mitigate the severe financial damage of identity theft by acting as an advocate and advisor for your case and helping you build a recovery plan. In many cases, an identity theft attorney will help victims seek damages and ensure those responsible will be held accountable for their actions.
