The Dangers of Dark Web Social Security Number Theft

Social security numbers (SSNs) are one of the most sensitive pieces of personal information that exist. They are used to identify individuals for tax purposes, to access government services, and to verify employment eligibility. Unfortunately, they are also a prime target for cybercriminals looking to commit identity theft and other fraudulent activities.

What is the Dark Web?

The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through regular web browsers. It requires special software, such as the Tor browser, to access. The dark web is often associated with illegal activities, such as the sale of drugs, weapons, and stolen personal information, including social security numbers.

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You may not shop online, but you probably use your credit card in brick-and-mortar stores. Data breaches can target any kind of information stored digitally, and that includes credit and debit card data used for in-store purchases. Prices have fallen by more than 50% on the dark web, indicating that more sensitive documents are available for sale. Given the high rate of data breaches and identity theft, there’s a huge supply of stolen identities on the dark net. It potentially opens the door to your retirement savings, government benefits, bank accounts, or IRS and credit files.

How is a Social Security Number Stolen?

Social security numbers can be stolen in a variety of ways, including:

• Phishing scams, where cybercriminals send emails or text messages that appear to be from a trusted source, such as a bank or government agency, in order to trick individuals into revealing their personal information.

“The most important thing you can do is put a freeze on your credit,” says Chapple. This is the strongest way to protect the sensitive data in your credit reports and, as of last September, the process is completely free. In Q alone, data breaches exposed the personally identifiable information (PII) of over 22 million Americans, including SSNs, passports, and driver’s licenses. Recent reports show that healthcare had the highest cost per stolen data in data breaches worldwide, with $429. Once you’ve received your results, we recommend going through them to see which of your credentials or other personal information is compromised. If your dark web scan results show that one or multiple credentials have been breached, we recommend changing the passwords to those accounts immediately.

• Data breaches, where hackers gain unauthorized access to a company’s or organization’s databases and steal sensitive information, including SSNs.
• Physical theft, such as stealing a wallet or purse that contains a social security card.

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What are the Risks of Dark Web Social Security Number Theft?

Keep it in a safe place at home and only take it out when someone like a bank requests to see it. Fraudsters can use your information and Social Security number to open or upgrade utility service agreements. This can include water, gas, electricity, phone, internet, cable, or other services. Like with the rest of SSN identity theft types, you may not know someone’s receiving free utilities in your name until you begin receiving unpaid bills. The only difference is that the identity thief uses your SSN and PII to file tax refunds instead of benefits in your name. These networks are dangerous because there’s nothing stopping a hacker from breaking into them.

Once a social security number is stolen and sold on the dark web, it can be used for a variety of malicious purposes, including:

• Opening new credit accounts in the victim’s name.
• Filing fraudulent tax returns and claiming refunds.
• Accessing sensitive government services, such as disability benefits or veterans’ benefits.
• Obtaining medical care or prescription drugs using the victim’s identity.

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How to Protect Your Social Security Number

If you’ve heard of the dark web, you might be worried that criminals can use it to steal your identity and access accounts. Make purchases with your debit card, and bank from almost anywhere by phone, tablet or computer and more than 15,000 ATMs and more than 4,700 branches. If you receive an alert, it means we’ve found your personal information on the dark web.

• 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.
• It constantly scans the dark web for breached credentials that match the ones stored in your password vault.
• In this case, the vendor is explicit about the hospital connection,” Wilson told Motherboard in an email.
• How to safely search the dark web for your SSN, and what to do if you find it.
• This prevents anyone from opening new accounts or taking out loans in your name.
• They can also offer further assistance, such as enabling two-factor authentication before they release your credit records.

To protect your social security number from being stolen and sold on the dark web, it is important to:

• Keep your social security card in a safe place and avoid carrying it with you unless necessary.
• Be cautious of phishing scams and never reveal your personal information in response to an unsolicited email or text message.
• Regularly monitor your credit reports and financial accounts for signs of fraudulent activity.
• Consider freezing your credit to prevent anyone from opening new credit accounts in your name.

What to Do if Your Social Security Number is Stolen

If you suspect that your social security number has been stolen and sold on the dark web, it is important to:

He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and a nationally known expert in the area of digital forensics. He and Sharon provide legal technology, cybersecurity and digital forensics services from their Fairfax, Virginia firm. People hear the term “dark web” and immediately visions of criminal activity come to mind. By its very design, the dark web is an excellent place to protect privacy. Journalists use the dark web to send and receive messages anonymously and to protect the identity of news sources.

• Contact the Social Security Administration to report the theft and request a new number.
• Contact the credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
• File a police report and contact the Federal Trade Commission to report the identity theft.
• Monitor your credit reports and financial accounts closely for signs of fraudulent activity.

FAQs

Q: What is the dark web?

A: The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through regular web browsers. It requires special software, such as the Tor browser, to access.

Q: How is a social security number stolen?

A: Social security numbers can be stolen in a variety of ways, including phishing scams, data breaches, and physical theft.

Q: What are the risks of dark web social security number theft?

A: Once a social security number is stolen and sold on the dark web, it can be used for a variety of malicious purposes, including opening new credit accounts, filing fraudulent tax returns, accessing sensitive government services, and obtaining medical care or prescription drugs.

Q: How can I protect my social security number?

A: To protect your social security number, it is important to keep it in a safe place, be cautious of phishing scams, regularly monitor your credit reports and financial accounts, and consider freezing your credit.

Q: What should I do if my social security number is stolen?

A: If you suspect that your social security number has been stolen, it is important to contact the Social Security Administration, the credit bureaus, the police, and the Federal Trade Commission to report the theft and take steps to protect yourself from further harm.