Beaumaster: Identity Thieves Benefit by Stealing Social Security Numbers

Easy cash is not the only motive behind identity theft. One of the fastest growing trends associated with this crime are thieves who steal Social Security numbers (SSN’s) to apply for jobs, obtain health and other benefits, or fleece unsuspecting victims out of their tax refunds.

Common Signs:

• You have been denied credit or turned down for a loan

Immediate Action to Take:

• Call the Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline to report that your SSN has been stolen at 1-800-269-0271 (10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time)

• Report the theft to one of the three reporting agencies (Experian 1-888-397-3742; Equifax 1-800-437-8432; or Trans Union 1-800-680-7289)

• File a police report with your local police department

• Contact the Federal Trade Commission to file the ID Theft Report and ID Theft Affidavit at (www.ftc.gov/idtheft)

• Contact the IRS ID Theft Protection Unit at 1-800-908-4490 if you believe, or have evidence that your SSN was used to steal your tax return. Ask for form 14039

• Run a credit report (free once a year by each of the credit reporting agencies) to see if there has been any unauthorized use of your credit accounts, or if there has been new applications for credit that you did not initiate

Note that the annual SS Earnings Statement (ES-Form-7005) can now be accessed on line by going to www.ssa.gov/ You can also request that a copy be mailed to you by calling 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778.

Need help or have a question?

Call MNSCAMS: 866-347-0911 or Rice County Attorney’s Office 507-332-5934