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To: Senior priests
From: Fr. Victor Galier, director, Office of Senior Priests
Dear Brothers,
Protecting your social security number is not easy, but is worth the effort.
Step 1: Use the government’s free Self Lock feature. To do this online, you first need to create an EVerify account, which means verifying your identity, setting up security questions and navigating a maze of government webpages.
You can also request that your SSN be blocked by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. Be prepared to wait for a long time.
Step 2: If your SSN is stolen and used for fraud, (e.g., someone opening a loan or getting a job in your name), start at IdentityTheft.gov. Fill out the form and the Federal Trade Commission will generate a detailed recovery plan customized to your situation. It is a lengthy process but necessary to reclaim your identity and protect it from future theft.
Step 3: Check with the IRS. If a scammer is using your SSN, you will not know until red flags start popping up, (e.g., receiving a tax form for a job you never worked for or filing your taxes only to find that someone else already filed with your SSN). The IRS has a dedicated hub for this called Identity Theft Central, where you can report misuse and start fixing the problem.
This is complicated but so is dealing with stolen identity issues. Safeguard your social security number now before someone else creates problems for you.
