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If someone used your Social Security number (SSN) without permission, secure any affected accounts, report the identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov, check your credit reports, and follow the steps for the specific misuse—such as employment, tax filing, debt, or benefits fraud. A credit alert or freeze can help limit new-credit fraud, but neither closes fraudulent accounts nor corrects inaccurate records by itself.
What to do first if someone used your SSN
Act on known fraud promptly, then create a record of what happened. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) describes IdentityTheft.gov as the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity-theft victims. It can generate an FTC Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan tailored to the information you provide, along with checklists and sample letters. The instructions below are U.S. guidance; the right agency-specific steps depend on how the number was used.
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- Secure accounts where you know fraud occurred. Contact each business through its fraud department. Explain that someone used your identity and ask the business to close or freeze affected accounts. Change the passwords and PINs for the affected accounts and any related logins that may also be exposed. Ask the business for written confirmation that the account is fraudulent, that you are not liable, and that it has been removed from your credit report if it was reported there. IdentityTheft.gov provides recovery guidance.
- Put a fraud alert or freeze on your credit files. A free one-year fraud alert can be placed by contacting one of the three nationwide credit bureaus; that bureau must notify the other two. A freeze is also free, but you must request it separately from each bureau. The differences are explained below.
- Review your credit reports. Use the official route to AnnualCreditReport.com linked from IdentityTheft.gov. Look for unfamiliar accounts, applications, or transactions, and keep a dated list of what you find and whom you contact. The FTC’s recovery page says consumers can check their reports weekly for free.
- Make an Identity Theft Report at IdentityTheft.gov. Answer the prompts with as much detail as you can. Save and print the report and personal recovery plan. If you use the site without creating an account, save them before leaving the page because they may not be available afterward.
- Dispute fraudulent credit-file information. Send each credit bureau the FTC Identity Theft Report, proof of identity, and a description of the information you want blocked. Keep copies of what you send, delivery records, responses, and a contact log. The FTC’s credit-report recovery guidance explains the process at IdentityTheft.gov.
Choose between a fraud alert, an extended alert, and a credit freeze
These measures address the risk that someone will use your credit report to seek new credit. They do not replace contacting a business about an existing fraudulent account or disputing inaccurate information. The FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) describe the measures as follows:
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| Measure | What it does | Where to request it | Duration and evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-year fraud alert | Asks businesses to verify your identity before extending new credit. It does not block access to your credit report. | Contact one of the three nationwide credit bureaus; that bureau must notify the other two. | Free and lasts one year. You can renew it. See the CFPB fraud-alert guidance. |
| Seven-year extended fraud alert | Asks businesses to take steps to verify your identity before extending new credit. | Contact a bureau and provide your FTC Identity Theft Report. | Free and lasts seven years. It is for people who have reported identity theft. See the FTC recovery guidance. |
| Credit freeze | Restricts access to your credit report, generally preventing new creditors from checking it until you lift or remove the freeze. | Request it separately from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus. | Free. It remains until you lift or remove it. You can lift it when applying for credit and place it again afterward. See the CFPB security-freeze guidance. |
A fraud alert is simpler to arrange because one bureau handles notifying the others; a freeze requires action with all three. If you have reported identity theft, the extended alert offers a longer alert period than the standard one-year alert. A freeze imposes the strongest restriction on access to your credit report, but you may need to lift it when applying for credit. Check the bureau and agency instructions for current request and removal procedures.
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Match the response to how the SSN was used
Someone used your SSN to get a job
Check your Social Security earnings and work history through a my Social Security account. If an entry is wrong, contact a Social Security Administration (SSA) office. IdentityTheft.gov also identifies creating an E-Verify account to lock your SSN as an option to consider. This is a targeted step for suspected employment misuse, not a substitute for checking and correcting inaccurate work-history information.
Someone used your SSN for a tax return or refund
If the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sends a notice saying someone used your SSN to claim a refund, follow the instructions in that notice. The FTC’s tax identity-theft guidance explains that you may need to submit IRS Form 14039. File your own tax return and pay any taxes you owe. If the issue remains unresolved, use the specialized IRS assistance described at IdentityTheft.gov.
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Someone opened an account or created a debt in your name
Contact the company where the account was opened and request information about the account and application. If a debt collector contacts you, the FTC says to write within 30 days of the collection letter. State that the debt resulted from identity theft and is not yours, and include copies of your FTC Identity Theft Report and supporting documents. Keep the letter and proof of delivery. The 30-day instruction relates to responding to a collector’s letter; follow the specific notice you received and the FTC’s current instructions at IdentityTheft.gov.
Someone claimed government benefits using your SSN
Contact the agency that issued the benefit and report the identity theft. For Social Security benefits, the FTC’s agency directory points to the SSA Office of the Inspector General. Other state and federal benefit programs have their own reporting routes; use the agency named in the benefit record or notice rather than assuming one reporting channel covers every program.
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The SSN appears on an SBA PPP or COVID-19 EIDL loan
If the suspected fraud involves a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan or COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), report the identity theft to the FTC and retain the report. IdentityTheft.gov also instructs victims to report the matter separately to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to start its review.
Keep evidence and follow up until the records are corrected
An FTC report, a credit alert, or a freeze does not automatically resolve every account or record. Work directly with each affected business and bureau, and keep enough documentation to show what you reported and when.
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- Keep a dated log of unfamiliar accounts or transactions, calls, letters, and the names or departments of people you contacted.
- Save copies of the FTC Identity Theft Report, recovery plan, identification, dispute letters, supporting documents, and delivery confirmations.
- Ask each affected business for written confirmation that the account is not yours, that you are not responsible for the debt, and that the account has been removed from your credit report if applicable.
- For a fraudulent entry on a credit report, send each bureau the FTC report, proof of identity, and a clear description of what should be blocked. Keep the bureau’s response with your records.
- Continue checking your credit reports for unfamiliar information and follow up with the business or bureau responsible for each item.
Recognize calls that threaten to suspend your SSN
A call claiming your SSN is suspended, connected to a crime, or must be “reactivated” is a scam warning sign. The FTC’s official guidance says, “Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended.” The SSA will not threaten you or demand a wire transfer, cash, or gift cards. Caller ID can be spoofed, so do not rely on the number shown on your phone: independently find the agency’s official contact details and contact it through that route. See the SSA scam guidance and the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov recovery resource.
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A new SSN is not the automatic first step. The SSA generally requires evidence that someone is misusing your number before it will consider assigning a new one. Even then, a new number may not solve every problem: businesses and government agencies may continue linking records to the old number. Follow the SSA-specific guidance referenced by IdentityTheft.gov and treat a new number as a limited SSA decision, not a substitute for correcting fraudulent accounts and records.
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Where to start if you are unsure what happened
If you know the specific misuse, contact the affected business or agency and follow the matching path above. If you only know that someone may have used your information, start at IdentityTheft.gov, review your credit reports, and secure any accounts you can identify. The recovery assistant includes the scenario: “Someone used my info to open an account, buy something, apply for a loan, get a job, file taxes, get government benefits, etc.” Its prompts can help direct you to the relevant recovery steps.
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