# Identity Theft / Social security card

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identity-theft-social-security-card/597692>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 26, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identity-theft-social-security-card/597692 "2011-09-26T19:45:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identity-theft-social-security-card/597692/1 "2011-09-26T19:45:13Z")

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If I had reason to believe that my or my child’s Social Security card number has fallen in the hands of someone who is a known identity theif, what can I do to check that my child’s SS number is secure? Anything?

ETA: I reported this for a forum move. My mistake.

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identity-theft-social-security-card/597692/2 "2011-09-26T19:48:57Z")

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Moved thread from IMHO to General Questions.

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**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identity-theft-social-security-card/597692/3 "2011-09-26T21:19:57Z")

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Check the main three credit agencies as described on the FTC site:  
[http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html](http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html)

You may want to consider getting a [security freeze](http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/learn_more/003484indiv.html) (as opposed to a security alert) which will stop ANYONE opening any credit in her name.

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**Author:** ![Teufelblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@Teufelblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teufelblitz)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identity-theft-social-security-card/597692/4 "2011-09-26T21:20:26Z")

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[http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a\_id/625](http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/625)

Doesn’t appear there is much you can do to prevent, but you may be able to react.

This may be a good place to start.

ETA:

> [@](#):
>
> We do not routinely assign a new number to someone whose identity has been stolen. First, you should do several other things, such as:
> 
> File a report with the local police or the police department where the identity theft took place, and keep a copy of the police report as proof of the crime;  
> Notify the Federal Trade Commission (1-877-ID-THEFT or 1-877-438-4338);  
> File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at [www.ic3.gov](http://www.ic3.gov) ;  
> Contact the fraud units of the three major credit reporting bureaus:  
> Equifax (800-525-6285);  
> Trans Union: (800-680-7289); and  
> Experian: (888-397-3742).  
> Call each of your creditors to report fraud for any account that has been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

That seems most relevant.

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**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identity-theft-social-security-card/597692/5 "2011-09-26T23:12:51Z")

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Thanks guys. I appreciate it.