Steps to Restore Your Identity After Social Security Number Exposure

Guidance from U.S. government agencies outlines specific actions individuals should take if their Social Security number is exposed or used fraudulently. These steps are designed to help restore identity and reduce the risk of further misuse.

If a Social Security number is compromised in a data breach, the Internal Revenue Service states that this exposure alone does not mean identity theft has taken place. However, individuals are advised to remain alert for any signs of misuse and to take proactive measures if fraud is suspected.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends reporting identity theft through IdentityTheft.gov. This process generates an Identity Theft Report and provides a personalized recovery plan to guide individuals through the necessary steps for restoring their identity.

After obtaining an Identity Theft Report, the FTC advises contacting any businesses where unauthorized activity has occurred. Individuals should close or freeze affected accounts and update logins, passwords, and PINs to prevent further access.

What the numbers show

• Three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—offer free credit reports.
• IRS Form 14039 is used to report tax-related identity theft.
• IdentityTheft.gov is the official FTC portal for reporting and recovery steps.

Placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on credit reports is another step recommended by the FTC. This can be done by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus, which helps restrict access to credit information and can limit further fraudulent activity.

Individuals are entitled to review their credit reports at no cost from each of the three major bureaus. Regularly checking these reports for unauthorized accounts or transactions is an important part of monitoring for identity theft.

In cases where identity theft involves tax filings, the IRS advises submitting Form 14039, known as the Identity Theft Affidavit. The agency also suggests considering an IRS Identity Protection PIN to provide an additional layer of security for future tax returns.

The Social Security Administration states that individuals can create or access their personal Social Security account to monitor for suspicious activity. Additional protections, such as electronic access blocks or direct deposit fraud prevention, can be added through this account. If identity theft problems persist, the Government Publishing Office notes that a new Social Security number may be requested from the SSA.

The IRS advises against carrying a Social Security card or documents displaying the SSN on a daily basis. These documents should be stored securely to reduce the risk of loss or theft.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.