Security Centre
How to Avoid SSI Fraud
If you are careless about your social security number, it is possible for you to find yourself a victim of SSI fraud.
How to Avoid SSI Fraud
SSI fraud, or identity theft committed using one's social security number for the sake of obtaining one's supplemental security income (SSI), is one of the more prevalent cybercrimes in the United States. If you are careless about your social security number, it is possible for you to find yourself a victim of SSI fraud.
It Begins with Your Social Security Number
There are many ways by which a person can illegally obtain your social security number. It could be that they got it when you lost your wallet or you misplaced printed mails that contain your social security number, not to mention other financial information. It is not unheard of for cybercriminals to rummage waste bins to get whatever information they can get from your garbage.
Cybercriminals can also get your social security number directly from you without your knowing. You could have given it to someone – like a telemarketer – who claimed that he or she needed it for you to qualify for some fancy deal they are offering. You could have posted it unwittingly as part of your transaction with an unsecured website.
It is also possible that your information was stolen from a company you had a legitimate transaction with and the information was then sold to cybercriminals. Regardless of how you lost it, the fact is that once someone gets your social security number, they can obtain access to your other accounts, such as your credit card or your bank accounts.
These cybercriminals will steal money from you and you will not be aware of it. The only time that you will realize that you have become a victim of SSI fraud and identity theft is when you see entries in your credit card account statements for purchases you never made, as well as entries in your bank account statements for withdrawals you never did.
Protecting Your Social Security Number
The only way you can avoid being a victim of SSI fraud is by keeping your social security number secret. After all, your social security number is a confidential piece of information in the first place and you should not be sharing it carelessly, especially not to telemarketers.
The best way to keep your social security number safe is to put it where no one can get it except you and your trusted family members. You should not put it in your wallet unless you really have to. You will never know when you will get mugged and your wallet stolen.
However, if you have lost your card or if you suspect yourself to be a victim of SSI fraud, you should perform steps that will curtail any damage that you may incur. Report the loss of your card with the police or with the proper authorities. You should also call your bank or your credit card company so your accounts will be frozen temporarily.
In addition, you may want to seek the services of a lawyer who specializes in identity theft and SSI fraud. A good lawyer will be able to help you recover whatever losses you may have had because of SSI fraud.
