By Lauren Schwahn | NerdWallet

Social Security numbers are vital for getting jobs, filing taxes, receiving government benefits and much more; they’re also becoming increasingly vulnerable to identity theft.

In August 2024, news broke that nearly 3 billion Social Security numbers were reportedly compromised in a hack targeting National Public Data, a company that provides data for background checks. More recently, retailer David’s Bridal filed notice of a breach that possibly exposed personal information, including Social Security numbers.

If your unique, nine-digit number falls into the wrong hands, it could have disastrous consequences for your finances. Fraudsters may steal your money or tank your credit. But taking steps such as freezing your credit and blocking electronic access to your SSN with the Social Security Administration can reduce your risk.

Start by locking down your Social Security number

There are a couple of things you can do to restrict the use of your Social Security number: block electronic access to your SSN and lock it with E-Verify.

How to block electronic access to your Social Security number

Blocking electronic access to your SSN prevents anyone — even you — from obtaining or modifying your personal information with the Social Security Administration online or through the automated phone service. You can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to request a block. You’ll need to call again and verify your identity if you want to remove the block.

How to lock your Social Security number with E-Verify

E-Verify is a system many employers use to confirm people’s employment eligibility. You can create a myE-Verify account to place a “Self Lock” with E-Verify. Locking your SSN prevents anyone else from using it to authorize employment in E-Verify. The lock stays in place as long as your account is valid or until you unlock it.

While this move helps prevent others from using your SSN for employment fraud, it will also prevent employers from confirming your own legitimate work eligibility. Be sure to unlock your SSN before starting a new job.

Can you freeze your Social Security number?

You can’t put a freeze on your Social Security number the same way you can freeze your credit, but aside from blocking electronic access to your SSN, there are other ways to guard your information.

Other ways to protect your data

Freeze and monitor your credit reports

Freezing your credit report, also known as a security freeze, can prevent scammers from using your Social Security number to open credit accounts in your name. Lenders can’t pull your credit file when it’s frozen, so they’re unlikely to approve credit applications. You can also freeze your child’s credit to prevent someone from using their SSN to take out loans and credit cards.

Placing a freeze is free and doesn’t affect your credit score. Note that you need to freeze your credit individually with each major credit bureau, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. If you plan to apply for new credit, you’ll have to lift the freeze; you can unfreeze your credit indefinitely or for a specified period of time.

Make sure to periodically check your credit reports for signs of fraud, such as accounts you didn’t open or addresses that aren’t yours. You can do this for free as often as once a week through AnnualCreditReport.com. Dispute any inaccuracies with the credit bureaus.

Make an account with the Social Security Administration

Create a my Social Security account online to manage and update your contact information. The Social Security Administration says that opening an account is important because it stops someone else from making an account in your name.

Keep your Social Security card in a safe place

The Social Security Administration advises not regularly carrying your Social Security card or other documents that contain your SSN with you.

Don’t give out your Social Security number unnecessarily

There are times you can expect to share your Social Security number, such as when you apply for an apartment or a credit card. Other times, it may not be necessary. When you’re asked for your number, the Social Security Administration recommends asking the requester why it’s needed, how it will be used and what happens if you decline to share it.

If you receive a call, text or email asking for your SSN, it’s likely a scam.

Protect yourself from in-person threats too; don’t say your number out loud in public or leave it visible to onlookers.

Consider using an identity theft protection service

Paying for an identity theft protection service might be worth it if you don’t want to freeze your credit or take the time to inspect your reports.

What to do if your SSN has been compromised

Despite your best efforts to protect your Social Security number, accidents and data breaches will happen. Here’s what to do you if you have reason to believe your number is at risk:

Freeze your credit reports with all three major credit bureaus. If you didn’t already take this step as a preventative measure, now is the time.
Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Visit identitytheft.gov to file a report and learn what steps to take next.
Get an identity protection PIN from the IRS. You’ll use this six-digit PIN to verify your identity when you file your tax return, preventing someone else from filing with your SSN. You can sign in or create an account with the IRS to get an IP PIN. You’ll receive a new number yearly, which you can access through your online account.
Replace a lost or stolen Social Security card. If you no longer have your physical card, request a replacement online or at your local Social Security office. You can replace your card no more than three times within a year or 10 times in a lifetime.

Lauren Schwahn writes for NerdWallet. Email: lschwahn@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lauren_schwahn.

The article As Hacks Surge, Protect Your Social Security Number originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Today’s travel trends are showing where people are going, who they are going with and what they want to do while on a trip.

“People are taking more trips and they are talking about them with their friends,” said Randy Yaroch, CEO and owner of The Travel Society in Greenwood Village. “Then you add social media and that really accentuates how people make choices on where to travel next.”

Knowing what the trends are can be reassuring and inspiring — such as women traveling solo — or possibly lead to making a different choice — like opting to avoid traditional Western European favorites due to crowds.

Yaroch’s Travel Society is a member of Virtuoso, a global network of agencies that specialize in luxury and experiential travel with thousands of travel advisers. A travel adviser is similar to the travel agents of the past, but they offer more advice and insights.

“Travel agents were order taking, but in today’s world they have become professional advisers, more like a consultant that is absolutely curating itineraries,” Yaroch explained. While travel advisers tend to work with premium- to ultra-luxury clientele, Yaroch said, they can also assist with more basic trips such as booking an all-inclusive package and transportation to and from a resort.

A tour guide gives information to a group of tourists outside of the National Theatre in San Jose, Costa Rica, on Feb. 6, 2024. The National Theatre is a building of historic architecture completed in 1897. It is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in national history and the main architectural jewel of the city of San Jose. Tourism represents one of the main sources of income in Costa Rica’s economy. (Photo by Ezequiel Becerra/AFP via Getty Images)

When working with clients, Yaroch and his team are looking at the trends and factoring in how this information might be used to get their clients the best trip possible.

Virtuoso released a travel trends report recently and had some interesting insights:

Domestic travel is dominating in fall 2024, but international travel continues to break records with Canada seeing a 168% increase year over year and Japan seeing a 160% increase.
Some hot spots are cooling a little just like the weather, so this fall could be the ideal time to head to Napa, Calif.; Amsterdam or Taormina, Sicily.
The holiday or “festive” season is seeing continued interest in Mexico, Hawaii, Anguilla and Costa Rica, with double- to triple-percentage increases in places such as Saint Lucia, the Dominican Republic and Grenada. Although Maui, Hawaii, did see a dip in travelers after the devastating fires in 2023, there is a 23% increase in fall bookings and a 32% increase for the holiday season.
Those ultra-luxury travelers are seeking expedition cruises, exotic destinations like Fiji or Thailand, and African safaris. This group is motivated to travel for celebrations and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Have you heard about “Coolcations?” According to Virtuoso, this is a trend to visit colder climates in summer (think Canada or Northern Europe) where they saw a 44% increase. Traditionally warmer places like Greece saw a very slight decrease in visitors.
While women traveling solo is not a new trend, both Virtuoso and Yaroch identified this and noted how it has expanded from baby boomers to all generations. “What they’re looking for are like-minded people to travel with,” Yaroch said. “They are going to all continents and seeking adventure travel or soft adventures like expedition cruising.”
It’s not just that people want to travel off-the-beaten path, but they are trying to avoid places suffering from overtourism. This means they are seeking out travel during the “shoulder seasons” or off-peak times and heading to South America, for example, instead of Europe. “The service is going to be better in offseason and prices will come down,” said Yaroch.
Although Instagram and other social media platforms might be influencing travelers, Virtuoso’s report found “a notable shift from focusing on a trip to-do list to an emphasis on how one feels during travel.” They noted that 77% of travelers prioritize curiosity and exploration.

Closer to home, the Colorado Tourism Office commissions a report each year and learned that in 2023 there was increased visitation to Colorado with 93.3 million visitors — a 4% increase over 2022. Other highlights included:

A boat cruises along a canal in Amsterdam, on April 12, 2024. (Photo by John Thys/AFP via Getty Images)

38% of visitors to Colorado in 2023 were coming to see family and/or friends, with just 12% citing the outdoors as the main purpose of their trip.
However, 60% of visitors said outdoor activities were the top activity (if not purpose), 58% entertainment, 40% cultural and 30% sporting. Surprisingly, shopping at 23% was a top activity over hiking/backpacking at 16%.
A large majority of the people visiting were returning — 85% of overnight travelers were repeat visitors in 2023 and 62% had visited in the last 12 months.

Their report does not show which cities or towns specifically are seeing more visitors, but the annual Dean Runyan Associates, “The Economic Impact of Travel in Colorado,” provides some insight: Denver is seeing the highest amount of spending with a 4.8% increase.

“Travelers choose Denver because of its ‘best of both worlds’ qualities,” said Justin Bresler, vice president and chief marketing officer at Visit Denver. “The city is an urban destination in its own right, and the appeal of everything you can do in the nearby Rocky Mountains makes us an even more compelling choice.”

 

Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson is getting close to making his return to the field.

After talking glowingly about his progress over the past few weeks, head coach Kevin O’Connell said the Vikings plan to open Hockenson’s practice window on Friday afternoon. He’s been on the Physically Unable to Perform List as he recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The decision gives the Vikings some flexibility as they work to get Hockenson acclimated. Technically, the Vikings have 21 days from the time they open the practice window to determine when they want to elevate Hockenson to the active roster.

Notably, O’Connell said Hockenson will travel to London with the Vikings ahead of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Though there’s virtually no chance Hockenson will suit up this weekend, he could practice with his teammates for the first time this week.

As soon as the Vikings get back from London, they will have their bye week, which will give Hockenson some extra time to get up to speed. After the bye week, the Vikings host the Detroit Lions on Oct. 20, then travel to play the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 24.

If the Vikings use all 21 days of the practice window, Hockenson will make his debut against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 3. It’s also possible that the Vikings activate Hockenson before that if he’s progressing at a rapid rate.

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