How To Tell If Spyware Is On Your Phone And How To Remove It
The Risks of Exposing Your Social Security Number on Dark Web
There a person can sell stolen Netflix logins, for example, and be pretty confident that authorities won’t find their location. Contact the IRS, check your credit report, and monitor any and every account you own for irregularities. You cannot freeze your Social Security number itself, but you can freeze your credit. However, you should only consider doing this if you’re very concerned or start receiving unfamiliar bills, credit notices, or if your bank warns you of identity theft. Your stolen Social Security number gives access to more personal data about you.
You can place a security freeze on your Equifax credit report online by creating a myEquifax account. Once the security freeze is in place, you’ll be able to verify its status through your myEquifax account. If identity thieves have your Social Security number, they may be able to apply for credit in your name including new auto loans, credit cards, student loans and personal loans. Fraudulent lines of credit can hurt your finances and sink your credit scores, and the process to reverse the damage can be long and complicated.
The internet is a vast space where information can either empower or endanger individuals. One of the most critical pieces of personal information is the social security number (SSN), which serves as a key identifier in financial and legal matters.
Unfortunately, the social security number on dark web is a valuable commodity for cybercriminals. Once this number is compromised, it can lead to various forms of identity theft and fraud. Understanding the risks associated with the exposure of your SSN is vital in today’s digital age.
What is the Dark Web?
My I pad had an alert to call a number,that I had a virus on it they said. It was a scam they told me someone had taken it out of my account and I had to buy gift cards to get it back. I received a message about an unknown account in my name on the dark web from one of the credit bureaus. We don’t edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them.
Because of its anonymity, the Dark Web is commonly used by hackers and scammers to trade and sell personally identifiable information (PII) — such as SSNs or login credentials — acquired through cybercrime. If your email was found on the Dark Web, you could be at risk of identity theft or fraud. Ultimately, the best thing you can do to protect yourself from identity theft is keep your sensitive information private, secure, and off the Dark Web.
Every one of your business accounts should have a unique, complex password. A free password manager stores all of those passwords for you so you don’t have to remember them all. It’s a simple, streamlined way to protect your passwords and the accounts they access.
The problem of Synthetic Identity is growing and it is a large problem. The Auriemma Consulting Group completed analysis which suggests that losses due to synthetic identity fraud topped $6 billion dollars last year. One tutorial instructs it’s user – “You will use this tool to assure you get a number that matches your state and that is most likely not assigned to someone else”. Scores of tutorials on “How to Make your Own CPN” can be purchased and they all direct would be fraudsters and scammers to this site – SSN Decoder.
It’s highly likely that a password, email address, or some other personal item has been stolen or accessed at some point, which is why it’s more important than ever to protect yourself. To find out if your information is on the dark web, use our free dark web scan. The dark web can only be accessed with a special internet browser called Tor, and it contains all manner of malicious websites, services and sellers. Tor provides an encrypted connection to the dark web and masks the user’s IP address. Buying and selling via cryptocurrency and a hidden IP address makes dark web activity difficult to track and pinpoint to one person or organization. “The most important thing you can do is put a freeze on your credit,” says Chapple.
The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines. It requires special software, like Tor, to access. Here, anonymity and privacy are prioritized, making it a haven for illegal activities, including the trade of personal data.
How SSNs Are Sold on the Dark Web
If you spot anything unusual on your credit reports, bank accounts, or credit card accounts, contact the bank, financial institution, or lender connected to these accounts. Account takeover is identity theft where fraudsters gain unauthorized access to user credentials and take over their personal and business accounts. These malicious attacks often lead to the extraction of sensitive data, unauthorized transactions, or illegal infiltration into organizational systems. If any of your sensitive data has been stolen or leaked from a website or online service, you should find out quickly. Identity thieves target your social security number, passport number, or driver’s license number because these items can allow them to open new credit accounts or loans in your name. There is a dark layer of the internet deep down where criminals swap and sell stolen information for identity theft or fraud.
Cybercriminals harvest social security numbers through various means:
- Data breaches: Companies may unintentionally leak sensitive data.
- Phishing: Users can be tricked into providing their SSNs through deceptive emails or websites.
- Malware: Harmful software can steal personal information from devices.
Once obtained, these numbers are often sold in bulk on dark web marketplaces or forums, offering criminals a means to commit fraud.
Why is Your SSN Valuable?
The social security number on dark web holds immense value due to its widespread use for identity verification. Here’s why:
- Identity theft: Criminals can open bank accounts, apply for loans, and obtain credit cards in someone else’s name.
- Tax fraud: An individual’s SSN can be used to file fraudulent tax returns and claim refunds.
- Medical identity theft: Fraudsters can misuse SSNs to gain access to medical services, leaving victims with bills and liabilities.
- Although often the result of data breaches targeting organisations, hackers can also target you individually via phishing attacks or through exploiting unsecured public Wi-Fi.
- Computer viruses are not just illegal software that can affect the performance of your device; they could pose serious risks…
- This type of fraud aims at using an SSN to steal someone’s Social Security benefits or file for unemployment in their name.
- Turkey, Israel, China, Singapore, Canada, and Australia all had averages of either $14 or $15.
- If your Social Security information has been compromised, you may be able to use an SSN lock to prevent some access to your personal information.
- Others may sell your Social Security number to bidders on the dark web.
Preventive Measures
To mitigate the risk of your social security number on dark web, consider taking the following preventive actions:
- Monitor your financial accounts: Regularly check bank statements for unauthorized transactions.
- Credit monitoring services: Use these services to receive alerts if your SSN is mentioned in any suspicious activity.
- Be vigilant with personal information: Avoid sharing your SSN unless absolutely necessary and only with trusted entities.
- Use strong passwords: Protect your online accounts with complex passwords and two-factor authentication.
FAQs
What should I do if I believe my SSN is on the dark web?
If you suspect your social security number on dark web, take immediate action:
- Contact the Social Security Administration for guidance.
- Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report.
- Regularly check your credit reports for any unfamiliar activities.
Can I monitor if my SSN is on the dark web?
Yes, several services offer dark web monitoring, alerting you if your SSN is discovered in their databases.
Is it legal to access the dark web?
Accessing the dark web itself is not illegal; however, participating in or facilitating illegal activities found there is against the law.
Protecting your social security number is paramount in an age of increasing cyber threats. Awareness and vigilance are key in ensuring that your personal information remains safe.
