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Guidance Requested: SSN showing on 'dark web'

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_KeepingScore_
New Member

Guidance Requested: SSN showing on 'dark web'

Hello, 

 

I haven't posted in several years, so looks like I am a newb again. I appreciate any help you folks may be able to offer. 

 

About 2 weeks ago, I got an alert from Discover of a pending charge for $1 that I knew wasn't mine. I immediately had them cancel/replace my existing card, to be safe. Today, Capital One notified me that my SSN was found on the 'dark web' and of course, I freaked. I put a freeze on all three credit bureaus right away. My cards are never out of my sight and I don't frequent seedy gas stations or sketchy websites to handle my business, so I am stupidly, ridiculously careful about where my info goes. However, I know that there is only so much I can do as there seems to be a breach weekly. 

 

I have (4) cards other than the Discover (3 CapitalOne + 1 Amazon), in addition to my standard banking card. Should I change account passwords and request new cards for all of those, or am I really being paranoid? Should I go farther than that?

 

Thank you kindly for reading. 

Message 1 of 9
8 REPLIES 8
FireMedic1
Community Leader
Mega Contributor

Re: Guidance Requested: SSN showing on 'dark web'

Changing passwords is fine. Freeze your reports.


TWO MORE MONTHS NO BK! (on Eq/Ex)
Message 2 of 9
Snook_on_the_Line
Established Contributor

Re: Guidance Requested: SSN showing on 'dark web'

Maybe freeze your chexsystems reports also so deposit accounts can't be opened in your name 

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Message 3 of 9
Im-back
Regular Contributor

Re: Guidance Requested: SSN showing on 'dark web'

With the recent data breach of millions of records many of us are now on the dark web. 

Message 4 of 9
AndySoCal
Senior Contributor

Re: Guidance Requested: SSN showing on 'dark web'

@Im-back @You could also setup an account with social security administration. 

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Message 5 of 9
Aim_High
Super Contributor

Re: Guidance Requested: SSN showing on 'dark web'


@_KeepingScore_ wrote:

About 2 weeks ago, I got an alert from Discover of a pending charge for $1 that I knew wasn't mine. I immediately had them cancel/replace my existing card, to be safe. Today, Capital One notified me that my SSN was found on the 'dark web' and of course, I freaked. I put a freeze on all three credit bureaus right away. My cards are never out of my sight and I don't frequent seedy gas stations or sketchy websites to handle my business, so I am stupidly, ridiculously careful about where my info goes. However, I know that there is only so much I can do as there seems to be a breach weekly. I have (4) cards other than the Discover (3 CapitalOne + 1 Amazon), in addition to my standard banking card. Should I change account passwords and request new cards for all of those, or am I really being paranoid? Should I go farther than that?


Welcome back, @_KeepingScore_.  

 

Like many of us, you may have been involved in a **HUGE** recent data breach.  This does not appear to be just any ordinary data breach.  It's in a league of it's own for the breadth or data and consumers affected.  Websearch the "National Public Data" breach from August 2024.   There are posts on this forum and Reddit about it, as well as tons of news articles. 

 

You can see your exposed data HERE.

 

You've started by freezing your credit reports.  Good job.

 

Immediately change all passwords for financial data and credit reporting.  Make sure they are complex and don't repeat between accounts.  Consider using a password manager software program to create and manage unique passwords.

 

Set up multi-factor login authorizaton or biometric login on all accounts that you can do so. 

 

Create an account with the IRS and put your tax filing on a PIN protection.  This keeps someone from claiming your refund if they file before you do.

 

Create an account with the Social Security Administration to verify your benefits haven't been accessed and to prevent someone else from setting up an account in your name.

 

In my case, I had my current physical address, my mailing address (PO Box), phone number and email address published. Smiley Mad Of course, I'm not going to move but my financial data goes to my PO Box for security.  I may change the box number.  I'm considering changing my phone number, although that is a huge hassle.  I use a separate email address for financial accounts already and fortunately it was not published, just my everyday "spam" email.  My email provider allows for setting up additional email aliases which can later be blocked without shutting down the account.  I'm considering using more of those to protect my core email account.   If a fraudster tries to use any of this published data, it would no longer be useful to setting up a new account or accessing my existing accounts or data.

 

It might not have been necessary but I went to most of my card accounts that weren't used frequently and locked/froze the cards.  It's easy to do with most lenders and helps prevent new charges from processing unless they are on a recurring subscription.

 

There is a posting on REDDIT that has a checklist of sorts of many large national data aggregaters (including Lexis Nexis and Chex Systems) where you can retrieve your report, opt out, or even remove all your data.   Go HERE for that checklist.

 

See these other My FICO threads for other related links and suggestions.  Good luck!

 


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Message 6 of 9
Tdatb64
Regular Contributor

Re: Guidance Requested: SSN showing on 'dark web'

My name, SSN, and last 25 years of addresses show up in that breach, as well as several correct former phone numbers. Every record that has a birthdate listed, however, has an incorrect one. I froze my reports as soon as I saw my info here:

https://npd.pentester.com/ 

 

Message 7 of 9
MikeB4
Established Member

Re: Guidance Requested: SSN showing on 'dark web'


@Tdatb64 wrote:

My name, SSN, and last 25 years of addresses show up in that breach, as well as several correct former phone numbers. Every record that has a birthdate listed, however, has an incorrect one. I froze my reports as soon as I saw my info here:

https://npd.pentester.com/ 

 


Same here I saw all my past addresses on here and did the same

EQ:652 TU:630 EX:649 as of 6/17/16
Message 8 of 9
AndySoCal
Senior Contributor

Re: Guidance Requested: SSN showing on 'dark web'

@Tdatb64 @MikeB4  I would also freeze my Chex systems report so that they cannot open new deposit accounts in your name. I would also if you have not done so already set up an account with the social security administration and ID me account with the IRS.

FIC Scores XPN v8 808 V2 831 (SDFCU) TUC V 8 803 07/25 EFX Bankcard v8 822 EFX FIC0 v8 800 Vantage score 4.0 817 via JC Penney
JC Penney 10/2008 4,700 US Bank Cash 08/2010 12,000 Citibank Custom Cash 5/2015 11,100 State Dept. FCU 06/2023 25,000 02/2024 Redstone FCU Signature VISA 10,000 08/23/2024 Langley FCU Signature Cash Back Visa 10000 Commonwealth Credit Union 15000 07/25
Banking: Langley FCU Credit Unions: Lafayette FCU Fortera FCU State Department FCU Pelican State CU Redstone FCU Hughes FCU Commonwealth FCU
My personal blacklist Axos Bank, Bank of America, Synchrony Bank Capital One TD Bank Comerica Bank BMO
Message 9 of 9
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