{"id":15137,"date":"2023-11-23T08:04:54","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T08:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/tech\/?p=15137"},"modified":"2023-11-23T08:07:03","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T08:07:03","slug":"what-to-do-if-someone-has-your-social-security-number","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/tech\/cyber-security\/what-to-do-if-someone-has-your-social-security-number\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do if Someone Has Your Social Security Number: Security Tips","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
The implication of having your social security number stolen is not a very favorable one. In fact, it exposes you to a whole lot of danger\u2014kinda like having your credit card stolen. To make sure that you are on the safe side, there are things you MUST do if someone else happens to gain possession of your social security number. One of which is to report to the authorities.<\/p>
Before we go further, I’d like to enlighten you on the meaning of a Social Security Number (SSN) and how it works.<\/p>
A Social Security Number is a numerical identity given to citizens and other permanent residents of the United States to track income and decide benefits.<\/p>
The purpose of the nine-digit number was to facilitate retirement and disability benefits in 1936. The SSN was first intended to be used for benefit and wage tracking. These days, it’s utilized for more things, like monitoring credit reports and identifying people for tax purposes.<\/p>
In order to get credit, create bank accounts, receive government benefits, make large purchases, and more, people in the United States are required to present their Social Security number.<\/p>
Every American citizen, permanent resident, and temporary or working resident has, with very few exceptions, a Social Security number. Even residents who are unemployed can obtain an SSN because businesses and government organizations use it.<\/p>
Section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S. Code, Chapter 7, Subsection 405) establishes the legal foundation for Social Security number assignment. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the organization that issues Social Security numbers and cards.<\/p>
Nowadays, Social Security numbers are just a series of random numbers. Before 2011, though, the numbers served a purpose. The first three numbers in those years denoted the person’s birthplace or place of residence. Originally, the next set of numerals was supposed to stand for a person’s birth month or year.<\/p>
Instead, the Social Security Administration chose to have it reflect a group number because they were worried that it could be forged. Although there have been a few instances where two people received the same Social Security number, no Social Security numbers have been used twice as of yet.<\/p>
Find out what to do if your Social Security Number has been compromised.<\/p>