How is my Social Security number being stolen this often?
So I (25M) have had my social security number reported to be used multiple times. I now have to go through extra steps every tax season.
The first time it was used to get a job somewhere when I was 16. The next time, I was 18. Since then, I’ve had to get a number each year for filing my taxes properly. Now, I’ve just gotten another piece of mail from the IRS reporting it may have been used for employment again.
It said it shouldn’t affect me, but I don’t understand how it is being stolen. I only use it on official documents, I don’t text it or email it to anyone ever, and my social security card is locked away with important documents.
When I was 18, I tried to get info on whoever used it, and was denied in order to “protect the individual’s identity.” (That really pissed me off)
Is it being sold, or is it just out there now since I was 16 to float to whoever needs it?
Who would it be used by?
***EDIT*** so I will be pulling credit in the morning. I am now using extensive measures and protection through my identity protection insurance to give me any indication of things being “off.” Thank you for your answers, and hopefully it was actually nothing but a change of address that caused the alert