my SSN # found on the "Dark Web" - now what?

[alleyrulez]

occasionally I would receive notifications from my card company, saying that a decades long and since changed password or email was found on the dark web. never paid much attention, as my risk level was pretty much zero.

but yesterday, my social security number came up.

unsure what to do next, aside from locking down my credit file with the major bureaus, which I did years ago.

has this happened to anyone else? what steps did you take to mitigate any exposure?

[TravisBicklesMohawk]

Just keep doing what you've done so far.

Basically, put all of your accounts and social medial on lock down. Change or update all passwords, etc., etc.

Otherwise, there really isn't much else you can do.

This is why I've always stressed people to limit what they put on their social media. Nobody should know where you live, or where you work.

[woblinweebles]

occasionally I would receive notifications from my card company, saying that a decades long and since changed password or email was found on the dark web. never paid much attention, as my risk level was pretty much zero.

but yesterday, my social security number came up.

unsure what to do next, aside from locking down my credit file with the major bureaus, which I did years ago.

has this happened to anyone else? what steps did you take to mitigate any exposure?

I got a similar email yesterday. Not too long ago, I got a letter from Ticketmaster saying they had been compromised and that most likely included all my info and I have had similar emails/letters from other companies. Wonder if there is any connection.

[Mister Freeze]

I think your SSN# and lots of other personal information have been hacked and shared umpteen times over on the dark web. That you're this vigilant about it puts you ahead of 99% of the population.

[Danzig in the Dark]

What is your mother's maiden name?

[alleyrulez]

What is your mother's maiden name?

[Babydoll]

When I was informed my SS# had been hacked I put a credit freeze on all 3 major ones that get checked. I can unfreeze it the next time I apply for credit.

[Bono Nettencourt]

When I was informed my SS# had been hacked I put a credit freeze on all 3 major ones that get checked. I can unfreeze it the next time I apply for credit.

This.

[alleyrulez]

When I was informed my SS# had been hacked I put a credit freeze on all 3 major ones that get checked. I can unfreeze it the next time I apply for credit.

This.

yeah, I did the same, years ago.

[Babydoll]

I am glad I go through all my mail carefully because some years ago what looked like junk mail at first turned out to be a collections notice from Comcast Cable saying I owed so much money for cable equipment that was not returned. Come to find out someone used my SS# to get cable. It was a pain in the ass to get ahold of Comcast because I did not have an account and to explain the problem. It did not effect my credit report, but I had to send in a lot of paperwork to prove it was not me. We don't even have Comcast where I live and apparently someone in the Chicago area used it (I live closer to St. Louis). The police said not much would really be done up there because they have much bigger fish to fry but I wished ill will on the person/people. Showing my utility bills showed I really lived down here forever. I asked how they got it and the police said there are so many ways even when you do everything right. I had always heard how bad Comcast was and after going into phone transfer hell I totally understood what people were talking about. Ugg.

[Nate S Axel]

Do you have an identity worth stealing? Since the hackers can read everything you type, just tell them you are broke, handicapped, and soon-to-be homeless and hopefully they'll move on.

Otherwise, offer them a successful friend's or relative's SSN to meet their ransom demands.

[Chip Z'Hoy]

has this happened to anyone else? what steps did you take to mitigate any exposure?

Unfortunate byproduct of behaving like a normal person in the modern era. Pretty much everyone's got their shit on the dark web now.

You'll definitely get some random texts like "Can I ask you something about work?" or a package that can't be delivered. I don't know if it makes a difference but I set my texts to not say "read" when I look at them, that way spammers don't know if their texts are reaching a working number.

Dypshyt will probably tell you to fuck with the scammers. I wouldn't, at least not with your real info. Great way to get swatted or fucked with at your job. They're criminals, they have nothing else to do all day, and they have all your info. DO THE MATH!!!!

Locking down your credit's the top move, not sure where else you can go from there. Definitely change your passwords.

[alleyrulez]

has this happened to anyone else? what steps did you take to mitigate any exposure?

I don't know if it makes a difference but I set my texts to not say "read" when I look at them, that way spammers don't know if their texts are reaching a working number.

fuck, I had no idea that was an option. done.

thanks for the heads up.

[DavidLeeLarsUlrichRoth]

What is your mother's maiden name?

IRON!!