Warning Signs Of Social Security Number Identity Theft

Similar to getting a credit card, an identity thief could use your SSN and other personal information and ID to open a bank account. They may use it to deposit illegal funds or make big withdrawals that you’ll be held responsible for. I’ve already covered the infamous Equifax scandal at the darknet market sites beginning of this article. However, data breaches happen every day, especially with phishing being on an absolute spree since COVID-19 started. This way, personal information held in “safe” databases can escape into the dark web where cybercriminals trade and exploit it for personal gain.

Tip 7: Shred Documents That Feature Personal Information

Why Get A Dark Web Triple Scan?

Various social engineering attacks and data breaches beyond your control threaten your SSN. It is the key to the rest of your sensitive information, and criminals can use it to rob bank accounts, open credit blackweb official website cards, and obtain large loans. By monitoring the dark web and data breaches, you can understand which accounts and what personal information may be compromised—and change the relevant passwords.

Dark Web Social Security Number: What You Need to Know

The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. It is often associated with illegal activities, including the sale of stolen personal information, such as social security numbers.

There are billions of websites, networks, and registries across the web, but the advantage of dark web monitoring is that you’re taking precautions. Without certain protections, you may never know if your information is being sold until it’s too late – which can result in identity theft. You’ll also get a free alert when there are new car loans, mortgages, credit cards or other accounts on your Experian® credit report.

How is a Social Security Number Sold on the Dark Web?

To create a deep fake video, your face and iris is crucial, as such information can improve the quality of the deep fake considerably. Therefore, one should be very cautious to whom they provide such information. Potential threats include suspicious applications from questionable owners that usually have access to your camera, or having your iris scanned directly. There are cases of projects which propose money in exchange for your iris scan. Everybody should secure their personally identifiable information (PII) when the background of the recipient is not crystal clear. But seeing as almost every American citizen holds a social security number, it has since become the de facto way of identifying people.

Cybercriminals often obtain social security numbers through data breaches, phishing scams, and other forms of cyber attacks. Once they have obtained this information, they can sell it on the dark web to other criminals who may use it for identity theft, fraud, or other illegal purposes.

This preemptive step can save you the substantial hassle and cost involved with dealing with an identity theft. Clark is a big proponent of freezing your credit, which will prevent anyone from opening a credit account in your name. Clark commended the listener for having already frozen her credit. You can also choose to use a password manager, which is a great way to create strong credentials that help keep your login information safe. With that said, if you happen to find your Social Security number or other sensitive data on the dark web, here are some steps you can take. We never like to use the word “impossible,” but unlike information found on Google and other indexed search engines, data on the dark web has no distinct process of removal.

How Can You Protect Your Social Security Number from Being Sold on the Dark Web?

Award-winning identity theft protection with AI-powered digital security tools, 24/7 White Glove support, and more. E-Verify is primarily used to prevent employment-related identity theft. By locking your SSN, you prevent criminals from using your identity to gain employment, commit insurance fraud, and further steal your identity. Instead, a Dark Web monitoring service like Aura periodically scans Dark Web forums and websites for your personal information and then sends you notifications whenever anything suspicious is detected.

There are several steps you can take to protect your social security number from being sold on the dark web:

• Use strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts.
• Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
• Be cautious of phishing scams and other forms of social engineering.
• Regularly monitor your credit reports and financial statements for signs of fraud.
• Consider using a credit monitoring service to alert you of any suspicious activity.

• They may use it to deposit illegal funds or make big withdrawals that you’ll be held responsible for.
• Armed with someone’s Social Security number and other identifying information, fraudsters can apply for loans, file fraudulent tax returns and receive medical care all in the name of an unsuspecting victim.
• When personal data is dumped online, it takes only a few minutes before people try to exploit it, according to a FTC report conducted last year.
• After collection notices piled up, her parents had to convince creditors her identity had been stolen.

What to Do if Your Social Security Number is Sold on the Dark Web

If you suspect that your social security number has been sold on the dark web, you should take the following steps:

1. Contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
2. File a police report and obtain a copy of the report for your records.
3. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report how to access the darknet the identity theft and create a recovery plan.
4. Consider freezing your credit reports to prevent further damage.

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