Social Security Administration

Whether it was part of the PayPal cyberattack or another security breach, here are the steps you can take if someone has your SSN.

Contact the Internal Revenue Service if your Social Security number has been stolen to prevent the thief from using your number to file a tax return and receive your tax refund or to prevent them from using your number for a job. Your employer will need your Social Security number to run a background check. [January Social Security check to arrive in the mail](/personal-finance/social-security-2023-your-january-check-is-on-the-way-heres-when-its-coming/) and [whether you need to file a tax return if you receive Social Security benefits. If you believe you've received a scam call or email, don't give the person any personal information. Enable two-factor authentication on your passwords to protect your private information on websites and apps. But you should be skeptical of any job posting that requires you to enter personal information at the outset of an application. If a thief uses your Social Security number to get a job, owed taxes may show up on your record. Don't carry around your Social Security card in your wallet. [IdentityTheft.gov](https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/) and fill out a form to receive a personal recovery plan. If you've taken all of the necessary steps and still find that your number is being used, [CNET's Bree Fowler explained](/tech/services-and-software/social-security-numbers-stolen-in-paypal-cyber-attack/), cyberattacks happen when hackers take to online accounts with combinations of usernames and passwords that are often stolen in previous data breaches and used to break into as many accounts as they can. But just because it's a constant threat doesn't mean you can't take steps to protect yourself.