Identity thieves aren’t waiting around. While you’re checking your phone or planning weekend plans, criminals are actively hunting for Social Security numbers to exploit.
Your SSN unlocks everything. Credit cards, loans, tax returns, medical records, government benefits. Once a scammer has it, they can impersonate you across dozens of systems. And cleaning up that mess takes months or even years.
But there’s a simple defense most people ignore. You can lock your Social Security number for free. Plus, the process takes about 10 minutes. Let me show you exactly how to do it.
Two Ways to Lock Your SSN
You have two options for blocking access to your Social Security number. Both work. Pick whichever feels easier.
Call the Social Security Administration
The SSA runs a phone line at 1-800-772-1213. They’re available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
Call early in the morning or later in the week for shorter wait times. Once you verify your identity, they’ll block electronic access to your SSN immediately.
Simple. But you’ll need to call again every time you want to unlock it.
Create an E-Verify Account
The smarter option? Set up a MyE-Verify account online. This lets you lock and unlock your SSN yourself without phone calls.
Here’s how it works. Many employers use E-Verify to check if you’re eligible to work in the US. The service comes from the Social Security Administration and US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
When you lock your SSN through E-Verify, companies can’t verify your identity. So scammers trying to get hired using your number hit a wall.
The lock lasts one year. You’ll get an alert 30 days before it expires. Then you can renew it if you want.
What Locking Your SSN Actually Stops
SSN locks prevent specific types of fraud. Someone can’t use your number to get a job or collect government benefits in your name.
That matters more than you’d think. Employment identity theft is huge. Criminals use stolen SSNs to work illegally or file fraudulent tax returns claiming your income.
But here’s the catch. An SSN lock won’t stop all identity theft. Scammers can still open credit accounts if they have other information about you.
That’s why you need a credit freeze too.
Credit Freeze vs SSN Lock: What’s the Difference
These tools protect different things. An SSN lock blocks access to your Social Security record. A credit freeze blocks access to your credit reports.
You need both for real protection.
Contact all three major credit bureaus to freeze your credit. That’s Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Once frozen, nobody can open new credit cards, loans, or mortgages in your name.
Yes, that includes you. But unfreezing takes just a few minutes when you need to apply for something legitimate.
The IRS offers another layer of protection. Create an Identity Protection PIN to prevent tax fraud. This six-digit code stops criminals from filing fake tax returns using your SSN or individual taxpayer identification number.
The Downside You Need to Know
Locking your SSN creates friction. When you block access, you also restrict your own access.
Need a new job? You’ll have to unlock your SSN so your employer can verify your eligibility. Applying for government benefits? Same deal.
This back-and-forth hassle annoys some people. But if you’ve already dealt with employment fraud or tax identity theft, the extra steps feel worth it.
Compare that to months of paperwork and phone calls trying to prove your identity after someone steals it. The choice seems obvious.
Smart Habits That Actually Help
Locking your SSN matters. But it’s not a magic shield. You still need basic security hygiene.
Share your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary. Never give it out over an unprompted call or text message. Ever. Legitimate organizations won’t ask that way.
Monitor your financial accounts regularly. Check your credit reports for suspicious activity. You can get free credit reports from all three bureaus once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Or let a service handle monitoring for you. Credit monitoring services watch your credit reports and alert you to changes. Identity theft protection goes further with dark web monitoring and breach alerts.
If your identity gets stolen, these services provide restoration help. Someone guides you through the recovery process instead of leaving you to figure it out alone.
Why This Works
Criminals need friction. Every extra step makes their scams harder and less profitable.
An unlocked SSN is easy pickings. They grab your number from a data breach, use it to file a fake tax return or open credit accounts, and disappear before you notice.
But locked? They hit a wall. The E-Verify system blocks them. Credit freezes stop them. Suddenly your identity isn’t worth the effort.
Most scammers move on to easier targets. That’s the goal.
Take Action Today
Stop waiting for the perfect time. Lock your Social Security number now. Freeze your credit. Create an IRS Identity Protection PIN.
These steps take less than an hour total. But they prevent months or years of identity theft cleanup.
Your Social Security number is too valuable to leave exposed. Protect it before scammers force you to learn that lesson the hard way.
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