There are many crooks around, and they will steal anything they can in order to gain money or get another person's property. Crooks are not above stealing very personal information, and that includes your Social Security Number.

Why would someone still your Social Security Number? Well, aside from the fact that it is proof of a person's eligibility for benefits, a Social Security number is considered a valid identification for major institutions, which include banks and government agencies.

The Social Security Office established a Fraud Hotline so that people can report any incidence of Social Security fraud and abuse to the authorities.

What are the incidences that are considered as Social Security fraud and should be reported right away?

1. A person receiving benefits for a child under somebody else's care
2. Individuals who do not reveal their marital status or their assets to the agency while they are getting disability benefits
3. People who are using and receiving benefits that belongs to a dead person
4. Individuals who are living out of the country but still getting benefits

The incidence of identity theft in the U.S. is a raising concerns from the government. The rise of technology had made the occurrence of Social Security fraud and identity theft more numerous than ever, and more and more people can just look on helplessly as another person uses their identity to do transactions under their name.

Crooks use a person's Social Security number to get money from banks, and avail of themselves loans and other services at the expense of the owner's finances. Instances of Social Security fraud can be reported to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) so they can help you solve identity theft issues.

Of course, the FTC cannot really help you if you already lost money because somebody else used your credit card and racked up an incredible amount of debt. They can advise you, however, to coordinate with your credit card company and have your account monitored for irregularities.

In the worst case scenario, the FTC may help you to get a new Social Security number. But the FTC will do so on the most extreme cases only, and you will probably have to exhaust all possible means to solve your problem before resorting to get a new number.

The FTC will not help to issue a new Social Security number to a person who is trying to evade the law, or avoiding legal responsibility. A person will not be granted a new number if they have no distinct proof that another person is responsible for the problem at hand. Also, the FTC will not help you get a new number if you just lost your old card and that there is no evidence that other people are using it for Social Security fraud.

Remember that only the SSA is authorized to give Social Security numbers, and it is free of charge. There are shady people out there, however, who will try to assist you in getting a new number for a fee. This is illegal, considered Social Security fraud and activities like this should be reported to the SSA immediately.