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You Won't Believe What Hackers Tin can Do With Your SSN

A stolen Social Security number can affect your credit, finances and even your health.

T-Mobile announced in Baronial that the names, Social Security numbers and other personal information of virtually l 1000000 people who did business with the cell phone carrier had been compromised in a data breach.

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Earlier, in April, it was the School of Medicine at Stanford University that confirmed hackers had leaked stolen personal data obtained via a compromised file transfer system, part of a bigger breach that impacted other health systems in the U.S.

Another month, another piece of bad news. While we've grown accustomed to hearing virtually hacking, you even so might exist amazed and appalled by the many ways a scammer can fraudulently utilise your Social Security number.

Discover some of the awful — only very real — consequences that might happen if your SSN gets stolen, and learn how to prevent or bargain with these worst-case scenarios.

Terminal updated: Oct. 14, 2021

Hackers tin employ your SSN to go credit cards in your name.

"The of import thing for people to sympathize is that once someone has your Social Security number, particularly in combination with your proper noun and address, they can practice pretty much anything that requires your SSN," said Brian Focht, an chaser and head of the Law Offices of Brian C. Focht in Charlotte, Northward Carolina, who lists cybersecurity and privacy law among his practise areas.

Focht said that fraudulently obtaining credit cards is past far the most common SSN scam that he sees in his do. It is possible for a hacker to get a credit carte with just your name, address and Social Security number. Once the credit cards are in place, fraudsters can run upwardly a lot of debt.

More often than not speaking, criminals aim to go the near they can with the least effort, Focht said. In his view, keeping your SSN safe requires two things: understanding and implementing security best practices, and luck.

"The all-time that anyone can do these days is be suspicious about anyone/anything that asks for personal data," Focht said. "If it doesn't seem right, it's probably non. Beyond that, there'southward but a lot that is way out of anyone's control."

Pro tip: If you suspect someone has opened a credit card in your name, Focht said your get-go calls should be to the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Don't merely contact one — call all three.

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They can employ your SSN to open a phone business relationship in your proper noun.

It's easy for criminals to open up a telephone account in your proper noun if they have your name, address and SSN, Focht said. Ane of his clients learned that her SSN had been stolen when she received a Verizon Wireless bill. It turned out that someone had opened an business relationship in her proper noun, then purchased several expensive phones, charging them to the account.

"What was particularly tiresome in her case was that the accounts were opened using an address the client hadn't lived at for more than a decade," Focht said.

Pro tip: Focht said that telephone companies normally have fraud departments to bargain with stolen services. Immediately let the department know what is going on, and and so follow up with a letter of the alphabet. Y'all might need to send a copy of that letter to the credit agencies if the issue shows up on your credit report.

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They tin can utilise your SSN to claim your tax refund.

In 2020, nearly 170 one thousand thousand people filed revenue enhancement returns for revenue enhancement year 2019, including traditional non-filers who submitted information to get their economical affect payments. That year, the Internal Revenue Service issued nearly 126 1000000 refunds, accounting for near 74% of all filers. The average refund was $2,549.

And then, imagine the shock if — rather than that long-awaited check — you instead received notice that someone else already filed a return in your name and received your tax refund.

This can happen if a scammer gets your proper name and SSN and simply files a render in your name. While your best bet is to keep your SSN individual, both the IRS and Federal Trade Commission tin can aid you if this happens.

Pro tip: In that location are many things you can do to assistance protect your tax refund. Learn to recognize phishing emails seeking your personal information and calls from scammers posing as your bank, credit menu company or the IRS. No banking company, taxing authority or responsible business organisation typically asks for your SSN online. Treat any such request as a scam.

They can use your SSN to get a driver's license in your proper noun.

When asked for a photograph identity, you lot are likely to whip out your commuter's license. Information technology is accepted as proof of who you are, where you lot live and how old yous are. So if an identity thief is able to obtain a commuter's license in your proper name, it opens many fraudulent doors.

To go a commuter's license, you generally have to pass a written exam, a driving exam and an eye examination, and provide your name, accost and SSN. A hacker might be able to become a driver's license in your proper noun without yous even knowing information technology.

Pro tip: If you believe that your name and Social Security number were used to obtain a fraudulent driver's license, immediately contact your state Section of Motor Vehicles. Warning signs could be traffic tickets issued in states y'all accept never visited or warrants for your arrest you know nothing virtually.

Related: Are Social Security Benefits Taxable?

They can use your SSN to open a bank account in your name.

If you lot recall dorsum to when you opened your start bank account, yous'll remember that the bank didn't require much information other than your name, accost and SSN. That means that anyone with your SSN tin easily open a bank account in your name, specially if the identity thief already obtained a driver's license in your name.

Why would someone desire to open up a bank account in your name? You tin can be certain it is not to add to your savings. The hacker could use information technology as a landing spot for transfers from your legitimate banking concern business relationship.

Pro tip: The minute y'all suspect your SSN has been stolen, call the fraud departments of the 3 credit reporting agencies and identify a fraud alert on your file. This tells creditors to call you before they open any new accounts in your name.

It'south also disquisitional to go on on height of your coin. Using an online banking app makes information technology easier to monitor your account.

They tin use your SSN to bleed your existing bank accounts.

Identity hackers also can use your stolen SSN to dip into any of your existing depository financial institution accounts. Armed with that cognition, they merely can transfer coin.

If they hacked your SSN, they might accept obtained your passwords and the answers to secret security questions, too, such equally your mother'southward maiden name. The drain on your accounts might be gradual — or y'all might wake upwards to detect your entire savings gone. Hackers also have begun to apply apps such as Zelle to transfer coin illegally.

Pro tip: It's important to protect yourself from hackers and scammers. Monitor your bank account on a daily basis to identify the slightest unfamiliar withdrawal or other changes to the account. The earlier you take hold of the fraud, the easier it will be to deal with it.

They tin can use your SSN to claim your Social Security check.

Although you are regularly asked to use your SSN for identification, its primary purpose is linked to your Social Security benefits. The government keeps track of your earnings and your Social Security tax payments with your SSN, and yous need it in society to merits Social Security retirement or inability benefits.

For case, if you are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits but have opted to expect until you lot reach full retirement age, a hacker with your SSN could apply for those benefits in your proper name. Considering Social Security benefits are ordinarily deposited direct into a bank business relationship, you lot might not fifty-fifty discover this until you try to apply for benefits years down the road.

Pro tip: It's a good idea to check your Social Security account once or twice a yr to make certain everything looks every bit it should. If you believe that a scammer is using your SSN to collect your Social Security benefits, phone call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271.

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They tin employ your SSN to get a loan in your proper name.

Steven J.J. Weisman, author of "Identity Theft Alert: 10 Rules You Must Follow to Protect Yourself from America'southward #i Crime," said that i of the worst things an identity thief can practice with your Social Security number is to obtain a loan in your name. To practice this, the hacker would first need to employ your SSN to access your credit reports. Then, using the data, an identity thief could get a loan in your name — and never pay it dorsum.

This is not only bad for your credit, Weisman said, but information technology tin can also affect your power to get a job, rent an apartment, get insurance or obtain a loan. All of these things often depend on having a good credit report.

If this type of fraud happens to you, you need to contact the lender involved, the police and the FTC. The issue tin can be difficult and time-consuming to fix.

Pro tip: Weisman said it's easier to safeguard your SSN than it is to repair ruined credit after someone has stolen information technology.

"You should not carry your Social Security number in your wallet or handbag," he said. "You should non provide it equally an identifying number to everyone who asks for it. Many places ask for it but don't need it past law."

The lesson here: Ever ask if your SSN is actually needed.

They can use your SSN to receive medical handling under your insurance.

Medical records typically lay out a patient's consummate identity, according to CNBC — which means that if in that location's a alienation affecting healthcare systems, hackers can practice a lot with what they've stolen. That includes accessing your medical insurance.

Weisman said scammers can incur large medical bills in your name that might not be covered by your medical insurance. In that case, y'all'll be hounded by collection companies for payment. This will definitely hurt your credit score.

Pro tip: Weisman said y'all need to stay on top of your medical records. "Just every bit you lot should regularly check your credit report, you lot also should regularly check your medical records to make certain that there are non mistakes," he said.

Today, most medical providers accept online records but not all practise. Ask your provider how all-time to review your records.

They can employ your SSN to identify themselves when picked upwards for criminal activity.

In some types of SSN fraud, yous, the victim, tin get arrested and thrown in jail. This could happen if the SSN thief commits a crime and uses your name and SSN to identify himself when apprehended. Weisman said this scenario becomes even worse when the hacker posts bond and then doesn't show up for the hearing.

"In that event, criminal charges will exist on record against the identity theft victim (yous), who will have difficulty straightening this out," said Weisman, an chaser who includes identity theft every bit office of his practice.

Pro tip: If you do become a victim of this type of fraud, Weisman said you should contact the credit reporting agencies and demand they remove the faux information from your credit report. You lot also should file a criminal complaint for identity theft with the local police and so that information technology is a matter of record.

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They can use your SSN to pay for their utilities.

For a client to use their services, it'southward pretty standard for utility companies to ask for your Social Security number as a way to bank check your credit history, according to the FTC. But this just means at that place'due south another opportunity for a hacker to go your personal information and unfairly wreak havoc on your finances. One time your SSN lands in the hands of hackers, they can freely open utility services under your proper name for their personal use. You might not meet any signs of this until y'all receive a notice for a by due payment.

Pro tip: Before you mindlessly requite out your SSN, take a moment to enquire near the company'southward security policies and what measures are in place to protect you and your SSN.

They tin sell your identity to launch spam attacks.

Although it might seem every bit if credit cards and loans are the endgame for most hackers who steal your SSN, that's not e'er the case. Hackers besides utilise your SSN to admission information almost you to sell.

According to an NPR written report, some documents tin sell for big coin — and there was a big leap in price from 2020 to 2021. Details about credit cards with account balances of upwards to $ane,000 tin can fetch the hacker $150, upwardly from $12 a year ago. The fee goes upwards to $240 for information about accounts with balances every bit high as $v,000. Stolen online banking logos for accounts with a minimum balance of at least $ii,000 go for $120.

Pro tip: Your SSN is precious, so try to find an alternative earlier opting to give information technology out. Alternates could include your driver's license or an account number.

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Jami Farkas contributed to the reporting for this article.

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