I’ve been scammed

I gave a scammer my Social Security number or ID: what to do now

With your Social Security number or ID details, a scammer can try to open accounts, file taxes, or take out loans in your name. Freezing your credit is free and stops most new accounts. IdentityTheft.gov will give you a recovery plan for your situation.

By Clutterstrike · Last reviewed · 1 min read

These steps are free, and you can do most of them online in under an hour.

Do this now

  1. Freeze your credit with all three bureaus. A freeze stops anyone from opening new credit in your name. It’s free, doesn’t affect your score, and you can lift it when you need to apply for credit: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion.
  2. Get a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov. If your number has already been misused, report it for a step-by-step plan. If you’re not sure it’s been used, follow the steps for information that was exposed.
  3. Get an IRS identity protection PIN. It stops anyone else from filing a tax return with your Social Security number. Request an IP PIN from the IRS.
  4. If you also shared bank or card numbers, call your bank or card issuer’s fraud line and ask for new numbers.
  5. Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Watch for signs of identity theft

Over the next few months, look out for:

  • Bills, collection calls, or account letters for things you didn’t open.
  • Charges on your statements you don’t recognize.
  • A notice that more than one tax return was filed in your name.
  • Accounts you don’t recognize on your credit reports. You can check them free at AnnualCreditReport.com.

If you spot any of these, report it at IdentityTheft.gov right away.

A fraud alert is another option

If you don’t want a freeze, a fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before opening new credit. It’s free and lasts one year. Contact one bureau and it notifies the other two. The FTC explains the difference between a freeze and a fraud alert.

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Written by Clutterstrike

Clutterstrike makes Cluttersignal, a browser extension that checks emails, texts, links, and websites for signs of a scam. Our guides are written by the team and checked against official guidance from the agencies listed in the sources.

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