Think someone has your SSN? We'll tell you what to do next.
If your Social Security number was stolen, exposed, or used without permission, you don't have to figure it out alone. This independent guide shows the warning signs, the order to act in, and the official government sites that handle each step.
We never ask for your SSN, passwords, or account numbers. Please don't type them anywhere on this site.
What happened?
Pick the closest match. You'll get a short, ordered plan.
Choose an option above to see your next steps.
Your recovery plan
Most SSN cases follow the same path: protect, check, report, document. Tick items off as you go. Your progress stays only in this browser.
Types of SSN theft
The same number can be misused in very different ways. Each type has a different fix.
Tax & employment
- Someone filed a return as you
- Someone works under your SSN
- IRS Identity Protection PIN
- Dependent identity theft
Credit & money
- Credit card identity theft
- Bank account identity theft
- Fraudulent accounts and loans
- Debt collectors for debts that aren't yours
Benefits & health
- Medical identity theft
- Unemployment benefit fraud
- Government benefits fraud
Special cases
- Child identity theft
- Synthetic identity theft
- Wages on the wrong Social Security record
Protect your SSN
- Ask why an SSN is needed, who sees it, and whether another ID works.
- Keep your Social Security card at home, not in your wallet.
- Be wary of calls, texts, and emails that demand your SSN. Real agencies don't threaten you into sharing it.
- Use strong, unique passwords and turn on two-factor authentication.
- Consider an IRS IP PIN to block fake tax returns.
Credit & identity
Credit freeze blocks most new accounts from being opened in your name. It's free, and you place it with each bureau.
Fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity first. It's free and is placed with one bureau, which notifies the others.
Check all three credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com, and look for accounts, addresses, or inquiries you don't recognize.
Tools & checklists
Use the checklist above, and keep a simple incident log on paper or in a private note: date, who you contacted, what they said, and any reference number.
Incident log
Record every call, email, and report as it happens.
Document checklist
Letters, account statements, IRS notices, and report numbers.
Contact list
FTC, IRS, credit bureaus, banks, and local police.
Letter templates
The FTC offers sample dispute letters at IdentityTheft.gov.
Official resources
Go straight to the source. These are the real sites that take your report and handle your case.
State resources
Your state attorney general, tax agency, and consumer-protection office can add local help. Find yours:
Find your state attorney general (NAAG)
Dedicated pages for all 50 states are planned. Each will link to the official agency first, never to a summary blog.
About SSNIDTheft.com
An independent educational resource that helps people understand SSN identity theft and find the right official next step.
- Government sources come first; laws link to primary sources.
- Pages are reviewed regularly and show update dates.
- We never ask visitors to submit an SSN.
- Spot something outdated? Tell us and we'll correct it.
Source order: federal and state agencies, then the credit bureaus and AnnualCreditReport.com, then reputable secondary sources only when needed. Blogs and forums are never used for legal or government procedures.
Independent information, not a government website
SSNIDTheft.com isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the SSA, IRS, FTC, or any government agency, and it isn't an official reporting service. We link to official sites so you can verify details and use their services directly.
Content is general education, not legal, tax, financial, or professional advice. Laws and procedures change, so confirm important details with the relevant agency or a qualified professional.
Never submit your SSN, passwords, or financial credentials to this site.