boilerman
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2007
- Messages
- 155
Not the same kind of PIN.
Social Security Number on The Dark Web
- Thread starter waynezo
- Start date
Not the same kind of PIN.
FindingForward
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2020
- Messages
- 280
Anyone hear if the IRS is still planning on launching a new login method/account at some point? They were going to become part of login.gov which would have been wonderful, since I have no luck w/IDme. But then they decided against that.
I’m happy that when I also had someone use my identity to claim a refund that I actually owed money that year. I often wondered about how difficult it would be if I actually was due a refund
I think they decided against it because login.gov didn't meet their security requirements and that login.gov was supposedly working towards that end. But who knows?
Glad you got a PIN for IRS. I have had that set up for almost 10 years.
Make sure you have your "My SS" account set up at ssa.gov with two-factor identification.
Set all your cell phones to have a SIM lock enabled (you will have to Goole this for your phone model and carrier)
Set ALL CCs plus your checking to alert you for any withdrawal/charge over $0.01.
If you do not have a locking mailbox, consider getting a PO box and have all your mail delivered there.
if you need to mail a check, see if you can write it with a special pen that cannot be "washed" and deposit the envelope directly into the slot insidethe post office (not even in the box outside or your own mailbox).
See if the local police will take a report about this. Even if they cannot determine who it is, you will be on record as having reported this in case someone comes after you.
Double-check that the credit freezes are still in place. However, there are MANY more credit reporting agencies - https://clark.com/credit/smaller-credit-bureaus-credit-freeze
Many times, the person committing identity theft has had some sort of connection with the victim -a neighbor, relative or coworker. This is extreme but here is one example - https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/n...entity-theft-leads-to-imprisonment-for-victim
Make sure you have your "My SS" account set up at ssa.gov with two-factor identification.
Set all your cell phones to have a SIM lock enabled (you will have to Goole this for your phone model and carrier)
Set ALL CCs plus your checking to alert you for any withdrawal/charge over $0.01.
If you do not have a locking mailbox, consider getting a PO box and have all your mail delivered there.
if you need to mail a check, see if you can write it with a special pen that cannot be "washed" and deposit the envelope directly into the slot insidethe post office (not even in the box outside or your own mailbox).
See if the local police will take a report about this. Even if they cannot determine who it is, you will be on record as having reported this in case someone comes after you.
Double-check that the credit freezes are still in place. However, there are MANY more credit reporting agencies - https://clark.com/credit/smaller-credit-bureaus-credit-freeze
Many times, the person committing identity theft has had some sort of connection with the victim -a neighbor, relative or coworker. This is extreme but here is one example - https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/n...entity-theft-leads-to-imprisonment-for-victim
Last edited:
Koolau
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Try this, Ko'olau: https://www.experian.com/protection/free-dark-web-email-scan/
Koolau
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Yeah, unfortunately, it would cause me to break my self imposed rule of not entering my SSN on the web. BUT, thanks. I'll do some research of this site and perhaps contact the credit bureaus.
Banks often require an EIN to open a business account registered to an LLC.
Secure Your Social Security Account
If you created an account with the SSA after 2021 https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.do you can secure it with ID.ME otherwise plain old TOTP
There can only be one account per SSN so doing this prevents anyone else from claiming yours.
You cannot do this while credit freezes are in place. You can also lockdown online access with an “e-services block” and/or visit an office to add a direct deposit lock.
There are now 5 majors to Freeze Your Credit Reports with.
These are free and should take less than 20 minutes to do all 5 online.
No one including yourself will be able to open a new account when a freeze is in place but you need to close all 5 doors. This will also help reduce the information that data brokers can see because it prevents the CRA from selling your data to them. The freeze can be temporarily or permanently undone online in 20 seconds with the PIN they’ll issue.
When applying for new credit, ask the lender which service they use so you can lift a freeze. Do it at least an hour before you submit the application. Most lifted freezes allow you to enter an expiration date for the lift so the freeze will be automatically reinstated.
1. https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
2. https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
3. https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
4. https://www.chexsystems.com/ Banks and CU accounts KYC for bad checks and closed accounts
5. https://forms.consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/#/freeze-self Mass mailing data for pre-screened credit card offers
After its frozen, insurance companies will still be able to review your credit report for underwriting purposes so reports of “my insurance went up after I froze my credit” are no longer valid. Existing creditors will still be able to raise or reduce your credit limit. Unfortunately you’ll also still receive prescreened offers of credit unless you opt out.
Don’t let yourself get tricked into paying for a credit lock or a fraud alert. Those aren’t freezes and will still allow the CRA to sell your data
Dark Web Monitoring Services are a Scam
By definition, the “dark web” consists of sites that aren’t indexed by search engines so there’s no point in paying for it to be searched. What you really want to know is if your PII is in any encrypted multi-terabyte data dumps. Even if a service could read these there’s nothing they can do about it that https://haveibeenpwned.com/ doesn’t.
Next opt out of data brokers by following this Data Removal Guide https://inteltechniques.com/workbook.html
Secure Your Social Security Account
If you created an account with the SSA after 2021 https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.do you can secure it with ID.ME otherwise plain old TOTP
There can only be one account per SSN so doing this prevents anyone else from claiming yours.
You cannot do this while credit freezes are in place. You can also lockdown online access with an “e-services block” and/or visit an office to add a direct deposit lock.
There are now 5 majors to Freeze Your Credit Reports with.
These are free and should take less than 20 minutes to do all 5 online.
No one including yourself will be able to open a new account when a freeze is in place but you need to close all 5 doors. This will also help reduce the information that data brokers can see because it prevents the CRA from selling your data to them. The freeze can be temporarily or permanently undone online in 20 seconds with the PIN they’ll issue.
When applying for new credit, ask the lender which service they use so you can lift a freeze. Do it at least an hour before you submit the application. Most lifted freezes allow you to enter an expiration date for the lift so the freeze will be automatically reinstated.
1. https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
2. https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
3. https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
4. https://www.chexsystems.com/ Banks and CU accounts KYC for bad checks and closed accounts
5. https://forms.consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/#/freeze-self Mass mailing data for pre-screened credit card offers
After its frozen, insurance companies will still be able to review your credit report for underwriting purposes so reports of “my insurance went up after I froze my credit” are no longer valid. Existing creditors will still be able to raise or reduce your credit limit. Unfortunately you’ll also still receive prescreened offers of credit unless you opt out.
Don’t let yourself get tricked into paying for a credit lock or a fraud alert. Those aren’t freezes and will still allow the CRA to sell your data
Dark Web Monitoring Services are a Scam
By definition, the “dark web” consists of sites that aren’t indexed by search engines so there’s no point in paying for it to be searched. What you really want to know is if your PII is in any encrypted multi-terabyte data dumps. Even if a service could read these there’s nothing they can do about it that https://haveibeenpwned.com/ doesn’t.
Next opt out of data brokers by following this Data Removal Guide https://inteltechniques.com/workbook.html
Last edited:
I used to use AGI but in 2010 I starting using a self-assigned a 5-digit fixed valued PIN.
in 2021 I also enrolled in the annually renewing 6-digit Personal ID PIN program. Its open to anyone and no longer limited to fraud victims.
Once enrolled I must log in every spring to get a new 6-digit PIN.
I use both PINs to e-file. You don’t need a PIN when you amend your previous tax returns.
Any e-filed tax return without the correct PIN will be rejected.
Any paper return without the correct PIN will be subject to extra scrutiny
https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin
Last edited:
easysurfer
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2008
- Messages
- 13,155
I received an email recently from Discover card saying they found my SSN on the dark web. Discover does a free scan I believe monthly. I'm assuming my SSN got there also from the ATT breach.
"I received an email recently from Discover card saying they found my SSN on the dark web. Discover does a free scan I believe monthly. I'm assuming my SSN got there also from the ATT breach."
That is how mine got there. Now ATT has informed me if I don't change my autopay from my credit card to my checking account they will charge me $5 more a month. They are using a third party vendor called "Trusty".
That is how mine got there. Now ATT has informed me if I don't change my autopay from my credit card to my checking account they will charge me $5 more a month. They are using a third party vendor called "Trusty".
All I have to do is google my name. My brother's names, my previous addresses, other family members names, their addresses, ages, my past employment appears. Although my birthday is not correct. Privacy is a thing of the past. If all that information is found in a simple google search, why would it be hard to get a SS#? My comment on my Aunt's obituary, who passed away 3 years ago appears in the google search with my name.
I protect myself the best I can online. Criminal hackers are scattered all over the world. They hide their identities and their governments support their activities. What does the dark web even mean?
Edit: Adding one more thought. Who knows if the lady/man at the SS office isn't selling our SS #s to hackers? Or the customer service agent you call at any service you have? They have access to all your information.
I protect myself the best I can online. Criminal hackers are scattered all over the world. They hide their identities and their governments support their activities. What does the dark web even mean?
Edit: Adding one more thought. Who knows if the lady/man at the SS office isn't selling our SS #s to hackers? Or the customer service agent you call at any service you have? They have access to all your information.
Last edited:
aja8888
Moderator Emeritus
At one time not too long ago, your Medicare number was your social security number. No wonder SS numbers are all over the web.
