Social Security: Protect your Social Security number from identity theft

If you watch the news, listen to the radio or read a newspaper, magazine or the Internet, then you probably are aware that identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in America. While recovering from an act of identity theft can be difficult, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity thieves.

Identity theft often starts with a Social Security number, or SSN. Once a thief has a valid number, he or she can open or reactivate credit-card accounts in your name, apply for federal or state benefits or make changes in your financial accounts. That nine-digit Social Security number is a valuable first step in assuming someone’s identity. And it also is why protecting your Social Security number is the first step in preventing identity theft.

Safeguard your Social Security number. You should treat your Social Security number as confidential information and avoid giving it out unnecessarily. Keep your Social Security card in a safe place with your other important personal papers.

Do not carry it with you unless you need to show it to an employer or service provider. The fewer people with access to your number, the safer you are.

Shred unneeded documents. Don’t just throw away paperwork that includes your name, Social Security number or other personal information on it – shred it. When you get junk mail, shred it before you toss it. If you don’t have a shredder, try ripping your paperwork several times and placing half of each document in different trash bags. If you fail to shred it, it could become free credit for someone else.

Monitor your credit records. Each of the major credit reporting services are now required by law to provide you with a free credit report each year upon request. This is a convenient way to see if anyone other than yourself or other authorized persons are using your credit. You can contact Equifax, Experian and Transunion and ask for your free reports.

Just go to the Web site set up by the three credit agencies at www.annualcreditreport.com

cra/index.jsp to request a free credit report.

Social Security also wants you to know that we work hard to protect your number from misuse. For example, we require and carefully inspect proof of identity from people who apply to replace lost or stolen Social Security cards, or who request corrected cards. One reason we do this is to prevent people from fraudulently obtaining Social Security numbers to establish false identities. We maintain the privacy of Social Security records unless a law requires us to disclose information to another government agency or if your information is needed to conduct Social Security or other government health or welfare program business.

For more information on identity theft and safeguarding your Social Security number, visit our online leaflet at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064. Or you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 and ask for the leaflet titled “Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number.”

If you think that you have been a victim of identity theft, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or by phone at 1-877-438-4338.

The Federal Trade Commission is the federal clearinghouse for identity theft complaints.