Social Security Number Found On Dark Web? Here's What To Do (2023)

FAQs

What to do if your SSN was found on the dark web? ›

If you discover that your SSN is circulating on the Dark Web, immediately lock your Experian credit file from either the mobile or web app to prevent further damage.

While your Social Security number (SSN) is still a valuable piece of information to identity thieves, it is not as valuable as login credentials. According to Privacy Affair's Dark Web Price Index, the current cost of a SSN on the dark web is $2.

While you can't remove your info from the dark web once it's there, you can take steps to prevent anyone from leaking your identity or personal data in the first place: Use a password manager. Avoid public WiFi. Set up two-factor authentication.

A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, when they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, it damages your credit.

Criminals can use this information in a variety of ways, such as to impersonate you or create a fake identity using your Social Security number. They may even make a driver's license or medical insurance card using your information and then use the documents if they're arrested or want to get a medical procedure.

You may reach the FTC's identity theft hotline toll free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338) or visit their website at www.ftc.gov/idtheft. Additional Resources: Protecting Your Social Security Number from Identity Theft.

Passport information sells for $62.61 on the dark web according to the Dark Web Index, while other proof-of-identity documents are running just under $30. A separate Experian estimate from 2017 has driver's licenses selling for $20 while, surprisingly, Social Security numbers can sell for as little as $1.

“Social Security numbers and other national ID numbers are for sale on the dark web but aren't particularly useful to cybercriminals on their own.

Basic stolen identity information on a US citizen, which only includes the Social Security number, full name and birth date, can range from $1 to $8 per person.

Darknets use complex, layered encryption systems to keep their users' identities and locations anonymous. Exploiting this capability, Dark Web users communicate and share data confidentially, without being tracked by private companies or public organizations, including the government and law enforcement.

What happens if you google the dark web? ›

If you click on any links, you may be taken to material you might not want to see. It's also possible that clicking a link or downloading a file could infect your device with malware. Law enforcement. Law enforcement officials operate on the dark web to catch people engaged in criminal activity.

Data can end up on the dark web in several ways, including through data breaches, using public Wi-Fi, visiting a nonsecure website, and leaving an offline paper trail. A cybercriminal may hack into company databases and take personal data, such as email account addresses, passwords, and phone numbers.

If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).

Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-4490 or visit them online, if you believe someone is using your SSN to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes. Order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

There are measures you can take to help prevent further unauthorized use of your SSN and other personal information. You can lock your SSN by calling the Social Security Administration or by creating an E-Verify account. Also, you can contact all three of the nationwide CRAs to place a freeze on your credit reports.

To request a different Social Security number, contact your local Social Security office for an in-person appointment.

Create a separate email address you can use for logging in to unimportant accounts. If one of these less important sites experiences a data breach, your primary email won't be the one floating around on the Dark Web. You can simply scrap your secondary account and make a new one. Monitor your credit.

Simply put, no it is not illegal to access the dark web. In fact, some uses are perfectly legal and support the value of the “dark web.” On the dark web, users can seek out three clear benefits from its use: User anonymity.

Without additional information, no one could access your bank account with your Social Security number alone. In terms of bank security, you should worry about other things like a poor password, lack of two-factor authentication, and general carelessness when online banking.

— No, your Social Security number cannot be suspended, revoked, frozen or blocked. It anyone tells you that, hang up immediately. — No government agencies — not the IRS, SSA or Medicare — will ask you to wire money, send cash or buy gift cards as a form of payment.

How can I find out if someone opened an account in my name? ›

The best way to find out if someone has opened an account in your name is to pull your own credit reports to check. Note that you'll need to pull your credit reports from all three bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — to check for fraud since each report may have different information and reporting.

The first three (3) digits of a person's social security number are determined by the ZIP Code of the mailing address shown on the application for a social security number. Prior to 1973, social security numbers were assigned by our field offices.

For reference, the average Social Security retirement benefit in 2023 is an estimated $1,827 a month.

In addition to Social Security, the SSN is now also used for a wide range of purposes. These include obtaining credit, opening a bank account, obtaining government benefits or private insurance, and buying a home or a car, among many other pursuits.

Digital encryption should be a priority for anyone looking to safeguard their data, given how cheap personal information is sold in dark web marketplaces, according to a recent study.

Regularly check your credit report and bank statements.

Check for the warning signs of identity theft — such as strange charges on your bank statement or accounts you don't recognize. An identity theft protection service like Aura can monitor your credit and statements for you and alert you to any signs of fraud.

Most valuable types of personal information

A Social Security number may sell for as little as $1. Credit card, debit card and banking info can go for as much as $110. Usernames and passwords for non-financial institution logins are $1, but it can range from $20 to $200 for login info for online payment platforms.

The maximum benefit depends on the age you retire. For example, if you retire at full retirement age in 2023, your maximum benefit would be $3,627. However, if you retire at age 62 in 2023, your maximum benefit would be $2,572. If you retire at age 70 in 2023, your maximum benefit would be $4,555.

But although they cut out general public access, these companies still sell your SSN (or part of it) to commercial firms of all kinds: private detectives, lawyers, banks, insurers, firms granting credit, debt collectors, phone companies, hospitals, insurers, law-enforcement agencies, employers.

You can't change your Social Security number simply because your card has been lost or stolen, or to avoid bankruptcy or legitimate debts. The only other reasons Social Security will consider assigning a new number are: Sequential numbers assigned to members of your family are causing confusion.

What should you avoid on the dark web? ›

Not everyone's data is on the Dark Web, but it's likely that you or your family have already been affected. However, this doesn't mean that hackers have access to your “fullz.” Most of the time, a few pieces of PII leak onto the Dark Web. Often, that's just a Social Security number.

The dark web is a common gathering place for hackers and other cybercriminals, which can make browsing the dark web a risky activity. Visitors to the dark web should exercise extreme caution when downloading files, as they may infect your devices with viruses, malware, trojans, ransomware or other malicious files.

Some of the more prevalent illicit activities include arms trafficking, drug dealing, and the sharing of exploitative content—often involving children—such as pornography and images of violence and other types of abuse. Websites support the rhetoric of neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other extremist groups.

An individual's internet activity can be tracked and monitored using their IP address. The 'Dark Web' uses complex systems that anonymise a user's true IP address, making it very difficult to work out which websites a device has visited.

What to Do if My Email Address is on the Dark Web? You can start by contacting your email provider and ask if your email address has been compromised. The best way to help protect yourself against these threats is to change your password and update all your software regularly.

A “security freeze” blocks access to your credit unless you have given your permission. This can prevent an identity thief from opening a new account or getting credit in your name.

An identity thief would have to obtain personal details such as your name, birthdate and Social Security number in order to open a credit card in your name. However, it is a federal crime to do this, and it can result in jail time when the thief is caught for their behavior.

If you intentionally withhold information to continue to receive payments, you may face criminal prosecution. Criminal penalties can include fines and imprisonment.

Can you be tracked by your SSN? ›

Private investigators often subscribe to databases that match SSNs to public records; this combination of information sources can be used to locate individuals.

Why the Last Four Digits of Your SSN Are So Important. The Social Security Number is not something you should give away. These numbers started being used back in 1936. Ever since they served as a way to verify someone's identity.

Once you have an SSN, it will never expire. Even if your employment is discontinued or you leave the U.S. for a few years and return, you will keep the same number. It is very important that you do not share your SSN with anyone else, as this can lead to identity theft.

Create a fraud alert.

Place a free fraud alert on your credit accounts by contacting any of the key credit agencies: Equifax , Experian or TransUnion. Consider placing a free credit freeze via the three credit agencies. A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name.

To see if someone's using your SSN, check your credit report. You can check it online through AnnualCreditReport.com, the only authorized website for free credit reports. Or you can call their phone number at 1-877-322-8228 to request your free copy.

Typical web browsers reveal their unique IP (Internet Protocol) address, making them traceable by law enforcement. But a dark web browser issues a false IP address, using a series of relays, to mask the user's identity. A significant portion of dark web activity is lawful.

Personal information from US citizens found on the Dark Web—ranging from Social Security numbers, stolen credit card numbers, hacked PayPal accounts, and more—is worth just $8 on average, according to a new report from tech research firm Comparitech.

Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-4490 or visit them online, if you believe someone is using your SSN to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes. Order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

If your data is available on the dark web, one of the easiest ways to find out is to check the “Have I Been Pwned” (HIBP) website. It's a free service, and all you have to do is conduct a search using your email address or phone number.

Contact one of the three credit reporting agencies (Transunion, Equifax, or Experian). You can call or email, but we recommend you use the online reporting options each service makes available. After a few days, check with the other two credit bureaus to verify that they've received the fraud alert as well.

How do I freeze my Social Security number for identity theft? ›

If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).

Without additional information, no one could access your bank account with your Social Security number alone. In terms of bank security, you should worry about other things like a poor password, lack of two-factor authentication, and general carelessness when online banking.

One way to check an employee's SSN is to register with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and sign up for SSNVS, a free online service. SSNVS allows users to verify one to 10 names and SSNs at a time. If you choose this option, you will receive the results immediately.

Thanks to the Fourth Amendment, the police cannot search your phone without a warrant. The police are allowed to ask you to unlock your phone and hand it over, but you have the right to decline this request. However, a police officer can take your phone as evidence, even without a warrant.

The dark web is a common gathering place for hackers and other cybercriminals, which can make browsing the dark web a risky activity. Visitors to the dark web should exercise extreme caution when downloading files, as they may infect your devices with viruses, malware, trojans, ransomware or other malicious files.

The cops might have access to any accounts your phone was logged into, this means they may have read personal communication, noted your personal accounts including email addresses, social media account names to follow, sent messages or made posts using your log in.