If you have a U.S. Social Security number

Step 1

Understand why your SSN matters

A Social Security number is used for legal employment and tax reporting. In the U.S. financial system, it can also be used in applications for credit cards, loans, phone accounts, bank accounts, and other financial products.

A combination of your name, date of birth, and SSN may be enough for a criminal to attempt to open an account in your name. The risk can continue after you leave the United States, especially when you are no longer monitoring your U.S. credit history.

Step 2

Protect your SSN and personal information

Your employer, bank, government or tax authority, and certain financial institutions may legitimately need your SSN. Be cautious whenever someone asks for it without explaining why.

Do not give your SSN to

• Roommates, strangers, people in group chats, or unofficial job contacts
• Anyone offering to “help” you obtain credit, loans, jobs, or documents
• A landlord or other business that will not explain why it is needed
• Unknown contacts who approach you by text, email, messaging app, or social media

Handle the card carefully

• Do not carry your Social Security card every day.
• Store it securely.
• Do not send a photograph through an ordinary messaging app unless the recipient is legitimate and the request is necessary.

Step 3

Check all three credit bureaus

The three major U.S. credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Their reports may include credit cards, loans, collection accounts, addresses, phone numbers, employers, inquiries, balances, and payment history.

A credit report is not the same as a credit score. For identity protection, the report is more important because it can reveal accounts or information connected to your identity.

You may need your full legal name, SSN, date of birth, current address, a previous U.S. address, email, phone number, and answers to identity-verification questions.

If you are outside the United States

You may not have a current U.S. address or phone number. Do not invent one. Use only real information, including the actual U.S. address where you lived during your program. If online access fails, save screenshots and note what happened. You may need to request reports by phone or mail.

If an online account may already exist

Document any unfamiliar email address, phone number, failed identity check, or notice that an account already exists. Save screenshots and dates. This may mean someone took control of credit-bureau access associated with your identity. Use official bureau contact methods and follow the recovery guide.

Step 4

Review each report separately

Save every report as a PDF. Fraud may appear on one bureau’s report but not the others.

Look for

• Credit cards, loans, collections, banks, or lenders you do not recognize
• Credit inquiries you did not authorize
• Addresses, phone numbers, employers, or name variations that are not yours
• Balances or payment histories connected to unfamiliar accounts

If everything looks normal

Save the reports. If you are not planning to use U.S. credit, consider freezing your credit with all three bureaus. A freeze is free and makes it harder for an identity thief to open new credit accounts. Save every confirmation number, password, PIN, and recovery code securely.

If you find suspicious information

List the institution, account type, partial account number, date opened, balance, reporting bureau, and why it is suspicious. Do not ignore it. Continue with the emergency action guide.

Before you finish

Final checklist

• Protect your SSN and personal information.
• Obtain reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Freeze all three reports if you do not need U.S. credit.
• Save reports and freeze-recovery information securely.
• Act promptly if you see anything suspicious.