Your Social Security Number could be sold to people staying in the U.S. illegally, or even used to commit crimes under your alias. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to invest in the best identity theft protection services (opens in new tab), which can alert you to fraud and help you to reclaim losses from identity theft if your Social Security Card gets into the wrong hands. Unlike with a lost or stolen credit card or debit card, you cannot close your account when your Social Security Card goes missing, so you need to take this series of steps as soon as you can.
Lost Social Security Card: What to do
Even if you have only lost your card and do not suspect foul play, you need to search thoroughly in every possible location. Of course, it’s likely you’ve already searched in every possible place before seeking the next steps, but replacing a Social Security Card can be a complex process, so you should make sure it’s not sitting in an old purse or filing cabinet before taking action. If you cannot find it, you need to act as if it’s been taken. Because you don’t know where it is, the safest route is to assume that it’s at risk of being stolen, if it hasn’t already been. From here on, you need to take the same steps as someone whose purse or wallet has been stolen.
Stolen Social Security Card: What to do
How to get a new Social Security Number
First, you need to determine whether your credit is at risk. Many times, thieves sell Social Security Numbers to people trying to get a job, but other times criminals will use the number to commit fraud, which is when you need to get a new Social Security Number by filing with the Social Security Administration. There are a few things you need to know first. If this isn’t possible for any reason, you’ll need to visit a local Social Security Administration office to obtain a new card or request a new number. You should also alert the police and file a police report if you fear that your Social Security Card is lost. Filing an identity-theft report will help prevent you from becoming a criminal rather than a victim if a thief uses your Social Security Number to commit a crime. Furthermore, this is required if you want to obtain a new Social Security Number.
The process is tedious. You must provide clear evidence of hardship, including run-ins with police, denial of new loans or credit that is too difficult to fix.The problem does not vanish when you obtain a new SSN. Your old SSN still exists, and therefore you must continue to monitor it. When you apply for new credit, your old SSN will still be associated with you.You’ll have to build your credit from scratch. With a new number, you will have no prior credit, making loans and credit cards difficult to obtain.The Social Security Administration has final authority. The agency typically does not support giving out new numbers, and so it may not give you one.
