Has my personal data been leaked to the Dark Web?
“Identity theft is not a joke Jim. Millions of families suffer every year.” As Dwight said, identity theft is not a joke but a solemn fact. Incidents of fraud and identity theft rose nationwide in 2021, both in incidents and losses. More than 5.8 Million fraud complaints happened and caused over $6.1 billion financial losses in 2021. It’s essential to stay safe online.
What can someone do with your social security number
You should be alarmed if someone has your social security number because it’s the key to unlocking your identity. And revealing it to scammers puts you at the gravest disadvantage. Here is the list of things that someone can do with your social security number:
- Open new bank accounts/credit cards/loads in your name
- Use your credit cards and steal your money
- File fake tax refund/return
- Steal your medical care benefits
- Open/updgrade utilities in your name
- Get a driver license in your name
- Commit fraud
If you lost your social security card, you need to take action immediately to avoid potential losses. Do not let a fluke mind stumble youIf you, because it takes days and months to find out the financial loss caused by identity theft.
How to check if your identity was stolen/leaked
The worst situation about identity theft is it may have occurred months ago, and by the time the victim finds out, the damage has already been there.
Here are signs of identity theft you should know:
- Unknown transactions
- Dropping credit scores
- Correspondence from the IRS
- A fraudulent tax return
When you think someone is using your identity, freeze your credit report, report it to related authorities and the local police departments to stop the loss.
How to protect yourself from identity theft
Signing up for identity theft protection is an easy way to protect yourself and prevent potential loss.
A compromised social security number leaves you vulnerable to identity theft. To get comprehensive real-time protection, you can consider a credit-monitoring service.
Aura
Aura is rated 4.8 stars on Trustpilot and 4.6 stars on the App Store & Google Play. Millions of users have tried it and are happy with its service. Aura’s identity theft protection service gives you in-depth inspection, all-in-one protection, a user-friendly interface, and a reasonable price.
Aura has all the basic features that all identity theft protection services have: dark web monitoring, data breach notifications, 24/7 customer support, identity protection, etc. But Aura aims higher; they provide you with all-in-one protection to keep customers safe:
- Credit Lock
- Antivirus
- Password manager
- Secure VPN services
- Parental Controls
Their outstanding customer service is a highlight, you can call them whenever you need: +1 833-253-5957. Try it out for 14 days for free right now.
Aura offers a 14-day free trial, so you can try it before making a decision.
Identity Guard
Identity Guard is an award-winning identity theft protection you can rely on. This is a cost-effective identity theft protection service in the market. The price starts at $7.5 per month.
The service you can enjoy:
- Fraud monitoring & alerts
- Credit monitoring and bank account protection
- 24/7 online expert
- $1,000,000 Identity Theft Insurance
IdentityForce
Backed up by TransUnion, IdentityForce is a powerful tool to protect you from credit card fraud and identity thieves. IdentityForce provides constant monitoring of your online privacy, identity, and credit. The tool will detect the illegal sale of your personal information on the dark web and warn you when your personal information is at risk.
If you, unfortunately, become the victim of identity theft, their specialized team offers 24/7 recovery services. Their expert team will complete all the paperwork, make phone calls, and handle every detail to restore your identity, and their identity theft insurance policy will cover your loss.