How Serious Is the Threat?
Your SSN is more than just a number. Think of it as the skeleton key to your financial, government, and personal records. With it, bad actors can open credit lines, hijack your tax refund, or even fraudulently use your government benefits. They can apply for loans in your name, which may go undetected until it damages your credit or financial stability. To help you understand these threats in detail, I recommend starting with the FTC’s Identity Theft Central as an essential resource to guide your next steps.
In fact, I can’t emphasize enough: If your SSN is out there, the time to act is now. The good news is there are a few straightforward ways to lock down your SSN and monitor for any suspicious activity.
Self Lock: An Immediate Barrier to Fraudulent Activity
One of the most effective protections you can set up quickly is the SSA’s Self Lock feature, which you can enable through the E-Verify platform. This tool helps prevent others from using your SSN for unauthorized employment verifications. You’ll need to create an E-Verify account to activate it, but the peace of mind is well worth the small-time investment.
Here’s how it works: When Self Lock is active, your SSN can’t be used in employment verification, making it much harder for scammers to use it in job applications under your name.
“Taking steps like activating Self Lock is like putting up a firewall around your SSN,” I always say. “While it’s not foolproof, it significantly reduces your risk.”
For further security, you can also call the Social Security Administration directly at 1-800-772-1213 to request a block on your SSN, though expect a wait time due to high demand.
