Hackers leaked 2.7 billion records from National Public Data, including SSNs. What does this mean for you? Plus, dynamic pricing at grocery stores, Google’s new game-changing updates, and Ford’s latest ‘do not drive’ alert.
Sorry, your Social Security Number was probably leaked
Your Social Security number is one of the most sensitive pieces of personal information you own. Too bad yours (and mine and every other Americans’) has likely been leaked and sold on the Dark Web.
Before you panic, there are a few steps you can take right now to protect yourself and your identity.
Is it really that big a deal?
It sure is. Your Social Security number is the key to the castle. It’s the unique identifier that connects your financial, government and personal records.
▶️ With your SSN, criminals can open credit card accounts, apply for loans, hijack your tax refunds, use your government benefits or even apply for jobs. Yikes.
There’s an easy step you can take
To safeguard your Social Security number, use the government’s free Self Lock feature. This tool prevents your SSN from being used for unauthorized employment verifications. You’ll need an E‑Verify account to do this online.
You can also request a block by calling the Social Security Administration at 1‑800‑772‑1213. Expect to wait on hold for a long time.
So many red flags, I thought I was at the circus
How do you know if your SSN is in someone else’s hands? Let me count the ways …
- Unexpected bills or strange accounts: Receiving bills or statements for accounts you never opened, especially credit cards or loans, is a bad sign.
- Unfamiliar tax forms: If you get tax documents like W‑2s or 1099s from jobs you didn’t hold, it could mean someone used your SSN for employment.
- Tax filing issues: This is a major way folks find out their SSN has been compromised. If the IRS reports a return already filed under your SSN, someone may have claimed a fraudulent refund.
- Credit report surprises: Look for unexplained changes, accounts or inquiries on your credit report. Get yours free once a year here.
- Government benefit denials: We’re talking disability, Medicare and other benefits someone else already claimed with your SSN.
Suspect your SSN was stolen?
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Sometimes, we share alerts about one major hack you need to know about — and other times, there’s enough going on that I need to pack a lot in. Sorry, friends, but this is one of those days. I’ll tell you about the data breaches and what you must do.
🚨 I told you about this already: It’s finally hit mainstream news that hackers leaked 2.7 billion records from National Public Data. Translation: Every American (and residents in the U.K. and Canada) may have their full name, address, date of birth, phone number and Social Security number up for grabs. Protect yourself and freeze your credit today!
Warn the students in your family: Data leak + student loan scam
Thieves are always on the lookout for new ways to rip you off. They often send phishing emails trying to trick you into clicking malicious links that install malware onto your device or steal account credentials.
More brazen criminals will even have the courage to call you on the phone. They will spin an elaborate scheme hoping to scam you out of your money. If you fall for a scam, some steps must be taken immediately. Tap or click here for details.
Bank data breach exposes 1.5 million Social Security numbers
Things like your social media accounts are precious to cybercriminals. Some are even more sought after than banking details. Tap or click here for how much your stolen credit card is worth on the Dark Web. But the last thing you want to hear is that your bank account or Social Security number has been breached.
Did someone break into your Facebook account? Check for this red flag
You know by now that details like your Social Security number and banking login are extremely valuable to hackers and scammers. But longtime Komando.com readers also know that your social media information trumps all others.
Your stolen information is on the Dark Web - What to do next
The Dark Web keeps internet activity private and anonymous. Dark Web content isn’t indexed by search engines, and you need special software to access it. You can imagine the applications for this, such as avoiding government censorship and keeping one’s identity private.
Windows malware can steal social media credentials, banking logins and more
Many pieces of personal information are valuable to hackers and scammers. Your Social Security number can spell lots of trouble in the wrong hands. Your credit card and banking information is highly sought after, too, as criminals can drain your account in seconds.
Student loan scammers are going after people WITHOUT loans, too
Students in the U.S. got a reprieve from paying back hefty federal study loans during the pandemic, with the government putting a halt on repayments. The deal was initially set to expire in January 2022 but got extended to May.
3 surefire signs someone stole your identity
Your credit card information is valuable to scammers, but there is one thing that they desire the more: your personal information. Tap or click here to see 10 accounts more valuable to cybercriminals than your credit card.
As federal student loan payments are set to resume, watch out for scammers
Repaying a hefty student loan can take years and a lot of hard work. With so many people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, last year the government put a pause on federal student loan repayments.
Now the Coronavirus emergency relief program is set to come to an end in just over a month and those payments will resume. Need to save money? Tap or click here for how to get a student discount at Apple (and you don’t need a student ID).
Delete yourself from this creepy site that collects email addresses, phone numbers and much more
There are many pieces of information that cybercriminals and scammers are after. Your personal information, Social Security number, search history and banking details are all valuable commodities.
By stealing your credit/debit card details, criminals could clean out your financial accounts. But with your private and personal information, they can steal your identity and cause even more damage.
Scammers are impersonating FBI agents. Don't let your family fall for it
Some robocalls are easy to spot. When a robotic voice warns your Netflix account is locked or that a credit card you don’t have has been compromised, it’s obvious you should just hang up.
But not all scam calls are so easy to spot. Thieves are always coming up with clever ways to trick victims out of their personal data and rip them off. Thankfully there are some steps you can take to stop scam and robocalls on your own. Tap or click here for ways to stop them in their tracks.
Watch out: This FTC site promises you money after your data is leaked - it's fake
Scammers have been duping unsuspecting victims out of their money by posing as a Federal Trade Commission website. The fake site goes by the U.S. Trading Commission’s name, which is not a real government entity.
Complete with the FTC’s official seal and address, it promises victims compensation if their personal data has ever been stolen. But the fake website is actually the one doing the stealing. Tap or click here for details on a nasty COVID vaccine scam.
One thing you need to do to protect yourself this tax season
Every year when tax season rolls around, scammers are on high alert searching for their next victim. But as is often the case, by the time you realize that you have been scammed, it’s too late.
Criminals will use every occasion, national event or celebration to target victims. All scams are terrible, but the worst is when fraudsters steal your identity. It can be challenging to prove to authorities that you have been scammed. Tap or click here for details on the worst identity theft scam you’ve never heard of.
Medical data breach exposes personal info - see the list of providers
We’re always hearing about data stolen by hackers. Companies are supposed to do everything they can to safeguard your personal information, but criminals are savvy and find new ways to get in.
Fallout from a data breach can be long-lasting and incredibly damaging. All it takes is a stolen Social Security number or credit card information to destroy your finances and help crooks steal your identity. Cleaning up that kind of mess can be tough. Just ask the victims of the massive Equifax data breach for proof.
A sneaky type of fraud is skyrocketing - here's what to do if it happens to you
Scammers shopping for stolen data on the Dark Web have found a scary new way to make money: unemployment fraud. With enough personal data and a viable Social Security number, it’s easy to apply for benefits.
Earlier in the year, states were having a hard time getting benefits to unemployed workers. The wait times are much shorter now, and scammers take advantage of it to avoid being noticed. Tap or click here to see an app that speeds up the process.
Clever FBI number spoofing scam tricked man out of $100K
If you pick up your phone and hear the FBI on the other end, it’s understandable if you feel your stomach drop. Feds rarely call people — and when they do, it’s usually because you’re part of an investigation.
Unfortunately, most of the time a caller claims to be with the FBI, they’re not telling the truth. As it turns out, it’s a popular scam technique designed to trick people into sharing personal data or sending money. Tap or click here to see how a scam like this is targeting seniors right now.
Didn't file taxes in 2018 or 2019? Use this new IRS website to get your coronavirus payment
The recently-passed CARES Act provides economic relief for citizens affected by job loss and instability caused by COVID-19. Aside from several high-profile rescue packages for businesses and industries, ordinary workers can look forward to stimulus checks of up to $1,200 per person and $2,400 for married couples.