Social Security Number Leak: Social Security Administration Says 7 Steps to Take If You're Affected

A Bloomberg Law report from early August found that highly sensitive and personal information of nearly three billion people was leaked in an April 2024 data breach. A cybercriminal group called “USDoD” published a database of National Public Data, a background check company, on the dark web.

Information exposed includes social security numbers, addresses, full names, family information and more. Concerned readers can visit npd.pentester.com to find out if they are among the billions affected.

But the question is: what do you do if you are affected by the breach?

Social Security data leak: 7 steps you should take if you are affected

According to the recommendations of the Social Security Administration (SSA), if your personal information is breached, you should take the following steps:

1. Visit IdentityTheft.gov. Create a report and get a recovery plan. You can also call 1-877-438-4338.

2. Visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center. File an online report.

3. Notify one of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.

4. Consider adding a credit freeze and/or fraud alert to your credit report.

5. Check your credit report for anything unusual. (Get a free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com.)

6. File a report with the police. Keep a copy for your records in case any problems arise in the future.

7. Contact the IRS to prevent others from using your Social Security number to file a tax return and steal your refund. Call 1-800-908-4490 or visit Identity Theft Central.

As mentioned at the beginning, you can again check if you have been a victim of a hack by visiting npd.pentester.com and entering your first and last name, state and year of birth.