The Dark Web: A Hidden Threat to Your Social Security Number

In today’s digital age, protecting your personal information has become more important than ever. With the rise of cybercrime, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential threats to your Social Security number (SSN) and take the necessary precautions to keep it safe. One such threat is the dark web, a hidden part of the internet where criminals can buy and sell stolen personal information, including SSNs.

What is the Dark Web?

Exposed Medical Records

The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and requires special software to access. It’s often associated with illegal activities, such as the sale of drugs, weapons, and stolen personal information. Because of its anonymity and lack of regulation, the dark web can be a dangerous place for unsuspecting users.

How is the Dark Web Used to Sell SSNs?

How Do You Check If Your SSN Was Compromised?

Criminals can obtain SSNs through various means, such as data breaches, phishing scams, and stolen wallets. Once they have your SSN, they can sell it on the dark web to other criminals who may use it for identity theft, tax fraud, or other forms of financial fraud.

How Can You Protect Your SSN from the Dark Web?

Don’t Have An Account Yet?

While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of your SSN being sold on the dark web, there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood and minimize the damage if it does happen:

It’s important to understand that the use of someone else’s SSN, even if obtained unlawfully, is illegal. Engaging in identity theft or purchasing SSNs on the Dark Web exposes individuals to criminal charges and serious legal consequences. Because of its anonymity, the dark web is frequently used by a wide variety of criminals, including cybercriminals, hackers, terrorists, and drug dealers. While the dark web uses the internet, it’s only accessible via special software, authorization, or configurations. If you tried to access a dark website with a traditional browser, like Google Chrome, Safari, or Internet Explorer, you would receive an error message.

• Monitor your credit reports: Regularly check your credit reports for any suspicious activity or unauthorized accounts.
• Freeze your credit: If you suspect your SSN has been compromised, consider freezing your credit to prevent anyone from opening new accounts in your name.
• Use a identity theft protection service: Consider using an identity theft protection service, which can monitor the dark web for any mention of your SSN and alert you if it’s being sold.
• Be cautious with your personal information: Be wary of phishing scams and other attempts to steal your personal information. Never give out your SSN unless it’s absolutely necessary and you’re sure the recipient is legitimate.

Check Your Credit Report And Bank Statements

This way, personal information held in “safe” databases can escape into the dark web where cybercriminals trade and exploit it for personal gain. Data leaks are by far the easiest and most common way to acquire peoples’ SSNs and other personal information. One of the significant risks of buying an SSN on the Dark Web is that you are engaging in illegal activity. Purchasing stolen or fake SSNs is a crime, and participating in this illicit trade can result in serious legal repercussions. Law enforcement agencies actively monitor Dark Web activities, and individuals involved in buying or selling SSNs can face criminal charges, including identity theft, fraud, and conspiracy.

Choose from business checking, business credit cards, merchant services or visit our business resource center. Several services, including the major credit bureaus, offer to scan the dark web to see if your information is out there. While this may sound negative, it’s the unfortunate reality given the amount of electronic data we provide nearly every day combined with a growing number of data breaches around the world. Total fraud and identity theft cases have nearly tripled over the last decade, according to the nonprofit National Council on Identity Theft Protection, rising to more than 1.4 million a year by 2022. You’ll have to lift the credit freeze before applying for new credit cards or other activity that would result in a hard credit check. Report any unauthorized accounts, and ask the credit bureaus to remove fraudulent items from your credit report.

• In Q alone, data breaches exposed the personally identifiable information (PII) of over 22 million Americans, including SSNs, passports, and driver’s licenses.
• When they find a social security number that belongs to a child, they will give it you and advise that is your own legal CPN number.
• Impacted companies may believe that you’re the criminal trying to take over someone’s account or identity.

FAQs

What is the dark web? The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that requires special software to access and is often associated with illegal activities.

How is the dark web used to sell SSNs? Criminals can obtain SSNs through various means and sell them on the dark web to other criminals who may use it for identity theft, tax fraud, or other forms of financial fraud.

How can you protect your SSN from the dark web? You can protect your SSN from the dark web by monitoring your credit reports, freezing your credit, using an identity theft protection service, and being cautious with your personal information.

What should you do if you suspect your SSN has been compromised? If you suspect your SSN has been compromised, consider freezing your credit and using an identity theft protection service to monitor the dark web for any mention of your SSN.