I received an email this morning from Discover Credit Scorecard telling me that my SSN was found on the Dark Web.
I logged in to get details and found that my name, old address (where I lived until 2015), two phone numbers (old landline, and work), SSN, and date of birth were found. Date of birth was not shown specifically but it said "D.O.B. found with SSN".
I had a free dark web scan available on Experian so I requested that, and that scan also found my cell # is compromised.
Should I do anything? I keep my credit reports frozen already. I use unique and strong passwords on every website. I went on the IRS website and they offer a I.P. PIN feature for protection but that's unavailable right now until late January probably due to the tax year ending soon.
Of course, to protect the guilty, they don't say who breached the information. Not that that would help anyway.
Any suggestions? Does it help any that it's my old address they got? (probably not, unless they apply for something that verifies current address).
Like virtual card numbers, the USA needs to get with the times and start using virtual SSNs, or some other form of identity that is changeable.
Thanks for that link @CreditInspired.
I'm not seeing anything I can do on the IRS website unless my SSN gets used fraudulently, but they do offer the IP PIN security feature, but that's unavailable right now, until January 2022. I'll have to grab one as soon as the New Year hits I guess.
I created a mySocialSecurity login with added security, so (hopefully) no one else can create an account in my name/SSN and mess with my Social Security.
I use Experian's free service along with Credit Karma for checking my reports, plus I get a FICO score from BofA. I also am registered on Discover's site but their credit scores don't work with frozen reports, so I don't log in there. Still, it's their monitoring that alerted me to this breach on the dark web and sent an email.
I could call SS and IRS next week for additional advice, but I think these steps should make me reasonably safer anyway. Get online accounts set up / locked down before someone else does.
I was notified yesterday also, first thing I did was contact EQ and place a fraud alert, they informed me they would contact the other two bureaus, EX and TU, and fraud alerts would be placed on those reports too. I have locked my credit reports since the EQ breach in 2017,
only unlocking them when appyling for credit.
If you have an IRS account, they are getting rid of all current user names and you have to set up a new account. I tried to get a PIN but where I have the Fraud Alerts already on my credit reports, I have to have a video chat with a Trusted advisor through ID.me, after getting the requested documents ready. That's an appointment for another day!!
Good luck, as all affected navigate through this.
@SleeplessinMA wrote:
I was notified yesterday also, first thing I did was contact EQ and place a fraud alert, they informed me they would contact the other two bureaus, EX and TU, and fraud alerts would be placed on those reports too. I have locked my credit reports since the EQ breach in 2017,
only unlocking them when appyling for credit.
If you have an IRS account, they are getting rid of all current user names and you have to set up a new account. I tried to get a PIN but where I have the Fraud Alerts already on my credit reports, I have to have a video chat with a Trusted advisor through ID.me, after getting the requested documents ready. That's an appointment for another day!!
Good luck, as all affected navigate through this.
I did the same too. Placed a fraud alert on Experian and they already contacted other bureaus to place alerts there as well
Shell FCU : 5K
@CreditInspired wrote:Thanks OP for sharing this info. I definitely think you should notift SS and ask what should be done.
Also, I did a search and found this article from the Univ of Berkeley that I found very useful on the steps one should take and Kudos to you for having your reports frozen.
https://news.berkeley.edu/2021/04/27/what-to-do-if-your-social-security-number-was-found-on-the-dark...
Thanks. Was able to create Social Security account new and IRS account with ID.me. Pretty cool
@sghosh5 @CreditMarathoner @CreditInspired
Thank you, CreditInspired for this info. I had already placed fraud alerts on my reports when I contacted Social Security about placing an extra layer of security on my account. Even Social Security cannot get into your account once the fraud report is placed so I am really comforted somewhat.
@Anonymous
I did the FTC report this morning, going to take that and file a police report in my town. My license number was compromised, MA stopped using social security numbers for licenses a long time ago, thankfully they didn't get that number. The second alert had my current phone number but another social security number associated with it but I haven't seen that number on any of my reports. Time to take a second look. Best of luck to you.
