The Dangers Of Having Your Identity Stolen And How It Can Be Sold On The Dark Web

Vulnerable Financial Information

2FA is like having an extra lock on your digital door, requiring both your password and a unique code or verification method to keep your accounts safe. If a scammer has already used your SSN to open new accounts, contact the companies immediately. For example, if someone has used your SSN to take out a mortgage, notify the lender or financial institution as soon as possible to let them know that the application was fraudulent. Identity theft and fraud protection for your finances, personal info, and devices. †To get the benefits of a Tally line of credit, you must qualify for and accept a Tally line of credit.

Tips To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

All three big credit firms (Equifax, Transunion, and Experian) can do this for you. However, that’s a small price to pay for preventing others from ruining your good credit. Dark Web Monitoring automatically scans the murkiest darknet market list corners of the internet for data leaks. Whenever your personal information is detected, you receive notifications to help you secure your accounts, update your passwords, and protect your identity — before it’s too late.

How Do I Know If Someone Is Using My Social Security Number?

Dark Web Social Security Number: What You Need to Know

Threat actors can use your Social Security number to commit fraud and leave you with lasting effects such as debt, damaged credit and financial… BreachWatch monitors for suspicious activity and will alert you to any dark web activity involving credentials that match the one’s stored in your Keeper Vault. When a record is flagged as “high-risk,” you’ll get a notification, and Keeper will help you change the password to better secure your information. Once you change your password to a strong and unique alternative, it will no longer show as high-risk. By now, you’re probably wondering if your own personal information is floating somewhere on the dark web.

The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is not indexed by search engines. It is often associated with illegal activities, and one such activity is the selling of personal information, including social security numbers (SSNs). In this article, we will discuss what you need to know about dark web social security numbers.

If your SSN ends up on the dark web, you can become a prime candidate for attempted identity theft and fraud. Scammers can purchase your SSN on the dark web and use it to open new accounts and credit cards, apply for loans, activate medical insurance, or claim benefits in your name. These ID theft protection services are ready to protect your data and bank accounts from fraudsters. Each one also includes dark web monitoring so you’ll be the first to know if your SSN is for sale there. In addition to scanning for data breach information, a dark web monitoring service can be used to classify risks from unknown sources. Businesses that receive alerts when their data appears on the dark web can connect those mentions to other threat sources, and use that information to profile and mitigate threats faster.

What is a Social Security Number?

A social security number is a unique nine-digit number issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents. The SSN is used to track individuals for tax purposes and to provide identification for social security benefits.

• Then, for added security, enable 2FA on every account that allows it — especially your online bank, email, and social media accounts.
• There are also cases where a crime is committed under someone else’s identity, leading to the arrest of the identity theft victim.
• Filing reports with the proper authorities can help reverse the effects of someone stealing your personal information.
• Lucky225 contacted CyberScoop after identifying three additional clients using the same function — two healthcare companies and a state health agency’s vaccination verification system.
• Someone could try to access your bank account using your Social Security number, but it alone wouldn’t be enough.

Like the traditional internet that we use every day, the dark web is a network of websites. But unlike our traditional internet, the dark web requires special security software to encrypt browsing activity and hide a user’s location and identifiable dark web market details. With the rise of the dark web, cybercriminals have found new ways to steal and sell personal information, including Social Security numbers. Every day, it seems, another data security disaster puts our personal information at risk.

How are Social Security Numbers Sold on the Dark Web?

Cybercriminals obtain social security numbers through various means, such as data breaches, phishing scams, and malware attacks. Once they have obtained a large number of SSNs, they sell them on the dark web to other cybercriminals who use them for identity theft, tax fraud, and other illegal activities.

How to Protect Your Social Security Number

No matter how big or small, no business or industry is immune to cyberthieves who may have identity theft in mind. The little drips of personal data leaked from every major data breach—your name, email, phone number, Social Security number, and mailing address—pool in a murky corner of the internet known as the dark web stolen credit card numbers dark web. Some of these leaks might seem relatively insignificant, but criminals exploit your personal data for profit and to help other criminal operations prosper. Access details to a compromised bank account with a $10,000 balance cost $25. Interestingly, the price also depends on the victim’s credit score.

There are several steps you can take to protect your social security number:

• Never share your SSN with anyone unless it is necessary.
• Regularly check your credit report for any unusual activity.
• Use a reputable identity theft protection service.
• Be cautious of phishing scams and malware attacks.
• Shred documents containing your SSN before disposing of them.

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, take the following steps:

• Contact the three major credit bureaus and place a fraud alert on your credit report.
• Contact the Social Security Administration to report the fraud.

  Is it OK to send SSN by email?

  The better you protect your Social Security number, the less likely you are to fall victim to different types of identity theft. If you ever need to send your Social Security number or any other sensitive information, don’t send it through email. Instead, send it securely by using a password manager.

  Can I freeze my SSN online?

  You can also place what’s known as a self-lock on your SSN through E-Verify^® at www.e-verify.gov, a government service that employers use to confirm a job applicant’s eligibility to work.