Free credit report free credit score Austin

Someone illegally using your Social Security number and assuming your identity can free credit report free credit score Austin cause a lot of problems. The Social free credit report free credit score Austin Security Administration protects your Social Security number and keeps your records confidential. We do not give your number to anyone, except when authorized by law.

You should be careful about sharing your number, even when you are asked for it. You should ask why your number is free credit report free credit score Austin needed, how it will be used and what will happen if you refuse.

The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give out your Social Security number. Identity thieves free credit report free credit score Austin get your personal information by: Show your card to your employer when you start a job so your records are correct. Provide your Social Security number to your financial institution(s) for tax reporting purposes. Keep your card and any other document that shows your Social Security number on it in a safe place. DO NOT routinely carry your card or other documents that display your number. Sometimes more than one person uses the same Social Security number, either on purpose or by accident.

If you suspect someone else is using your number for work free credit report free credit score Austin purposes, you should contact us to report the problem. We will review your earnings with you to ensure our records are correct. credit check free online You also may review earnings posted to your record on your Social Security Statement (Form SSA-7005). The Statement is mailed automatically each year to workers age 25 and older.

You also can get a Statement at any time by requesting one online or by calling our 800 number.

If someone has misused your Social Security number or other personal information to create credit or other problems for you, Social Security cannot resolve these problems. You should contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft.

Or, you can call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338); free credit report free credit score Austin TTY 1-866-653-4261. The FTC website is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect and defend against identity theft.

You also may want to contact the Internal Revenue Service.

An identity thief might also use free credit report free credit score Austin your Social Security number to file a tax return in order to receive a refund. instant credit report If the thief files the tax return before you do, the IRS will believe you already filed and received free credit report free credit score Austin your refund if eligible. If your Social Security number is stolen, another individual may use it to get a job. That persons employer would report income earned to the IRS using your Social Security number, making it appear that you did not report all of your income on your tax return.

If you think you may have tax issues because someone has stolen your identity, contact the IRS Identity Protection Unit at www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=186436,00.html or call 1-800-908-4490.

Also, you should file an online complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. The IC3 gives victims of cyber crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities free credit report free credit score Austin of suspected criminal or civil violations.

IC3 sends every complaint to one or more law enforcement or regulatory agencies that free credit report free credit score Austin have jurisdiction over the matter. IC3s mission free credit report free credit score Austin is to receive, develop and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local free credit report free credit score Austin and international level, IC3 provides a free credit report free credit score Austin central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet related crimes. free credit report only The IC3 reflects a partnership free credit report free credit score Austin between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National White Collar Crime Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. You also should monitor your credit report periodically. Free credit reports are available online at www.free credit report free credit score Austin annualcreditreport.com. If you have done all you can to fix the problems free credit report free credit score Austin resulting from misuse of your Social Security number and someone still is using your number, we may assign you a new number. You cannot get a new Social Security number: If you decide to apply for a new number, you will need to prove your age, U.S.