Consumer Rights and Your Social Security Number
Your Social Security Number is an essential part of your personal information, and when it falls into the wrong hands, it can wreak havoc in the most important parts of your life. The good news is that California has strong consumer rights laws, and companies that require your SSN must take appropriate steps to keep it safe. But what happens when they fail and your SSN ends up in a data breach or circulating the dark web? That’s when you need a strong Southern California consumer rights attorney. Call the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates at 562-216-2944 to set up a consultation right away.
Identity theft is shockingly common, even though everyone knows they should protect their SSNs, login information, and bank information. Per the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 9% of all U.S. residents 16 or older were victimized by identity theft during 2021. For the majority of people, this theft only involved the loss of one type of information. But those who suffered the worst outcomes often suffered the loss of their SSN.
Your Rights Regarding SSN Protection
Consumers are granted certain protections when it comes to their Social Security Numbers. In California, companies are barred from:
- Publicly displaying SSNs
- Putting SSNs on ID badges and cards
- Putting SSNs on mailing to customers unless the law requires the SSN or the document is either a form or application
- Placing SSNs on postcards or mailers without being protected by an envelope
- Requiring consumers to send their SSN over the Internet without a secure connection or encrypted number
- Requiring the use of SSN to log in to a website unless the website also requires a password
These requirements apply to businesses, governments, schools, and other entities.
Risks Associated With SSN Misuse
A number of things can go wrong when an entity misuses an SSN or fails to take steps to protect it. To start, those with your SSN may be able to access current accounts, including financial accounts, school accounts, and work accounts. This risk is even greater if they also have your commonly used passwords, which is fairly common in massive data breaches. Once they have access to these various accounts, they can change the contact information on them to match their own, request new cards, make purchases, and lock you out of your own accounts.
Even more frightening, people can use your SSN to open new accounts without your knowledge. Many people do not realize that their identity has been stolen until they find out years later that their credit score was in the 300s due to thousands and thousands of dollars of unauthorized debt. If someone can figure out your SSN, they can likely also figure out your identifying information, employment history, and other facts needed to open new accounts in your name.
Misuse of your SSN may even land you in trouble with government agencies. With other people’s SSNs, criminals can illegally access unemployment benefits, disability benefits, housing benefits, and other programs meant to help those in need. Unraveling that mess can take years and leave your credit in tatters. In the face of identity theft or misuse of your SSN, a consumer rights lawyer in Long Beach can guide you, providing legal assistance and advocacy to help you navigate the complexities of recovering your identity and protecting your rights.
What to Do When Your SSN is Mishandled
It is crucial to take action immediately upon finding out that your SSN has been mishandled and misused. The quicker you take steps to reverse what’s been done, the less damage the criminal will be able to do. First, you should take steps to lock down your SSN with the credit bureaus. This prevents new lines of credit from being opened. You can also freeze your current accounts with all of your financial institutions. You may also want to double-check that your contact information has not been changed on any of your financial institutions. Resetting your passwords—and ensuring you use a unique one for each account—is also a wise step.
From there, it’s time to talk to a consumer rights attorney. The company that allowed access to your information may be liable for damages, and it’s important to act quickly.
Choose a Southern California Consumer Rights Lawyer to Protect Your Rights
At the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates, we work tirelessly to help those who have had their privacy and rights violated. Let’s talk about your legal options and next steps. Contact us online or call us at 562-216-2944 to schedule a time to talk now.
Attorney Robin D. Perry has been part of the Long Beach Community for over 25 years handling business litigation, employment litigation and advising, criminal defense, personal injury and code enforcement defense for businesses.
