How to protect social security number from identity theft

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Self Lock helps protect you from employment-related identity fraud.
Why Use Self Lock
How to Use Self Lock
Related Resources
How do I make sure no one has stolen my Social Security number?
How do I check to see if someone is using my Social Security number?
Can you put a freeze on your Social Security number?
Is there a way to flag your Social Security number?

Self Lock is the unique feature that lets you protect your identity in E-Verify and Self Check by placing a "lock" in E-Verify on your Social Security number (SSN). This helps prevent anyone else from using your SSN for an E-Verify case. If an employer enters your locked SSN in E-Verify to confirm employment authorization, it will result in an E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmation (mismatch). With Self Lock, you are always in control - you can unlock your SSN any time a new employer needs to confirm your employment authorization in E-Verify. Your Self Lock remains active as long as your account remains valid, and you have not unlocked your SSN. The Self Lock feature is only available to myE-Verify account holders.

Why Use Self Lock

Employment-related identity fraud could mean that someone else is working under your identity and using your SSN. If this happens, someone else’s wages could be reported in your name to the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, and other authorities. By using Self Lock, you can block someone from committing this fraud if they start working for an E-Verify employer. Even if you are not currently working, you may want to protect your SSN and identity with Self Lock.

How to Use Self Lock

To access Self Lock, you must be logged in to your myE-Verify account.

To lock your SSN, you must select and answer three challenge questions. Select questions you can easily answer, because you will need to answer them again to verify your identity if you receive an E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmation (mismatch) due to Self Lock.

If you are about to start a new job with an E-Verify employer, you should log into your account and unlock your SSN.

Last Updated Date:

09/15/2022

Reading time: 5 minutes

Highlights:

Your Social Security number can be valuable information for identity thieves
Consider placing a security freeze or fraud alert on your credit reports if your Social Security card is lost
If you know your Social Security number has been stolen, there are some additional steps you can take

Your Social Security number is a valuable piece of information to identity thieves. It’s a key element of your identity and is also linked to taxes and credit information. And except in limited circumstances, it can’t be changed. That’s why it’s so worrisome to have your card lost or stolen.

Here are some steps to take for a lost or stolen Social Security card:

1. Consider placing a fraud alert or a security freeze on your credit reports or locking them. With an initial fraud alert, potential lenders and creditors are encouraged to take additional steps to verify your identity, such as contacting you by phone, before extending new credit. A fraud alert lasts for one year and can be renewed. Fraud alerts are free. Contact one of the three nationwide credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian or TransUnion – to request a fraud alert, and that bureau will notify the other two.

Security freezes help prevent access to your credit reports to open new credit accounts, with certain exceptions. Security freezes are federally regulated, and a freeze must be temporarily lifted or permanently removed each time you apply for new credit. Placing, lifting and removing security freezes is free, but security freezes must be placed separately at each of the three nationwide credit bureaus. At Equifax, you can create a myEquifax account to place a security freeze. Visit our security freeze page to learn other ways you can place a security freeze on your Equifax credit report.

Options for locking your credit report may also be available from the three nationwide credit bureaus. Learn more about fraud alerts, security freezes and credit report locks.

2. Request a replacement card from the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration allows free card replacements; you are limited to three per year or 10 throughout your life (name changes and other exceptions don’t count). You can create a my Social Security account to request a replacement card if you:

Are a U.S. citizen age 18 or over with a U.S. mailing address
Are not requesting a name change or any other changes on your card; and
Have a driver’s license or state identification card from a participating state. More on which states participate here.

Please note: You cannot create a my Social Security account online if you have a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit reports.

If you are not in a participating state and cannot request a replacement card online, you will have to apply at a local Social Security office. You’ll need to provide documents proving your identity and age. Learn what documents are needed here. Print an application and fill it out, then take the application and documents to the Social Security office. Your new card will be mailed directly to you.

You might also consider calling the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 to report the lost card.

3. Check your credit reports. Keep an eye on your credit reports in the future to ensure no unauthorized new accounts are opened in your name or no existing accounts are modified without your authorization. You might also want to be on the lookout for any address changes you didn't make or any inquiries from lenders and creditors you haven't applied for credit with. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. You can also create a myEquifax account to get six free Equifax credit reports each year. In addition, you can click "Get my free credit score" on your myEquifax dashboard to enroll in Equifax Core Credit™ for a free monthly Equifax credit report and a free monthly VantageScore® 3.0 credit score, based on Equifax data. A VantageScore is one of many types of credit scores.

An initial fraud alert also allows you to request an additional free copy of your credit report from the three nationwide credit bureaus.

If you know your Social Security number has been stolen, here are some additional steps to take:

1. File a police report or a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Report. This will help in case someone uses your Social Security number to commit fraud, since it will provide a legal record of the theft.

2. If you believe your identity has already been used, you can also contact the Social Security Fraud Hotline at (800) 269-0271.

3. Call the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 908-4490 to report the theft and help prevent someone from submitting a tax return in your name.

4. Consider placing an extended fraud alert on your credit reports. An extended fraud alert requires a police or FTC identity theft report. It lasts for 7 years, and requires lenders or creditors to verify your identity (in person or by phone at a number you provide) before opening new accounts or making changes to existing ones.

An extended fraud alert also entitles you to two additional copies of your credit report from the three nationwide credit bureaus over the first year after the extended fraud alert is placed. Your name is removed from pre-screened credit card or insurance offers for 5 years.

5. If you see information on your credit reports that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, notify the lender or creditor. You can also file a dispute with the credit bureau reporting the information. To file a dispute regarding information on your Equifax credit report, you can create a myEquifax account. Visit our dispute page to learn other ways you can submit a dispute.

Call TeleCheck at 1-800-710-9898 and Certegy, Inc. at 1-800-437-5120.

Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-4490 or visit them online, if you believe someone is using your SSN to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes. Order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).

There are a few ways you can flag your social security number. The primary way to do this is to through a fraud alert, which will put extra protections in place for people trying to access or use your social security number or other private account details associated with your credit.