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Something already happened

I shared my Social Security number.

Short answer

What to do right now

Start at IdentityTheft.gov for steps matched to the information you exposed and whether it has been misused. Review relevant accounts and credit reports, and consider placing a credit freeze with each nationwide credit bureau.

Immediate actions

Use the identity route matched to what was exposed.

  1. Start at IdentityTheft.gov and follow the steps for the information exposed and whether you see misuse.

  2. Review relevant accounts and credit reports for activity you do not recognize.

  3. Consider a credit freeze; it must be placed separately with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

  4. Use the affected agency’s independently reached official route if tax, Medicare, driver’s-license, or passport information was involved too.

Do not

Avoid making the situation harder.

  • Do not treat exposure and confirmed misuse as the same event when reporting what happened.
  • Do not pay an unexpected caller who claims they can erase or repair your identity record.

Records and reporting

Keep the details you already have.

Keep copies of reports, letters, account changes, credit-bureau confirmations, and case numbers.

If something else happened too

Source notes

Official guidance behind these steps

Plainly Living uses the scope and exceptions recorded in its claim-control ledger. These links go to the responsible public agency.