If someone steals your Social Security card or misuses your Social Security number without your permission, it’s one of the worst forms of identity theft you can suffer.

Crooks can use your Social Security number to file taxes in your name, illegally snatching away a federal tax refund to which you’re legitimately entitled. Then you have to deal with the hassle of trying to prove your identity to the IRS – a messy situation that can take months to correct. And that’s not all.

When an identity thief gets his or her hands on your Social Security number, he or she can also: charge up debts in your name, open authorized credit accounts, or try to tap into your bank and other financial accounts. Unfortunately, millions of people in the U.S. are victimized by scams involving identity theft and fraudulent use of a Social Security number.

Here are our handpicked articles about identity theft and unauthorized use of your Social Security number:

I Lost my Social Security Card, Now What Do I Do?

Someone Stole My Social Security Number To File Taxes. What Should I Do?

Is Identity Theft Insurance Right for You?

Recommended Reading:

The Identity Theft Recovery Guide – eBook