Thieves and scammers are always looking for a way to gain access to your passwords and social media accounts, ultimately to gain financial gain.

For example, your computer will be locked and a ransom will be demanded to regain access. Payment is usually requested in Bitcoin or another virtual currency, making tracking almost impossible.

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Or they may simply steal your identity using any personal information they have access to, probably through the details you voluntarily shared on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.

There's a new threat to your personal information and bank accounts that the FBI is warning consumers in Illinois and Wisconsin about.

Remove this from your wallet or purse immediately

To prevent criminals from gaining access to your confidential information, the Social Security Administration is urging citizens in a press release not to “carry your Social Security card with you every day.”

In the press release, the SSA explains that 49 states only require your Social Security number to issue a Real ID, and only the state of Pennsylvania requires a paper copy.

Please be careful about giving out your number if you are asked for it. You should always ask what your number is needed for, how it will be used, and what happens if you refuse. Also, you should not carry any documents with your number on them. – Social Security Administration

The best way to “protect your card,” according to the SSA, is to keep your card in a safe place and only share it when absolutely necessary.

What can scammers do with your social security number?

Even if you keep your Social Security card in a safe place, it can be compromised in a data breach or found on personal documents in the trash.

Once the thieves have the numbers, according to Credit.com, they can “sell your identity or impersonate you to open various accounts in your name, obtain medical care, file fraudulent tax returns, or, in the worst case, commit crimes.”

CLICK HERE to learn more ways to protect your Social Security number and what to do if you need a replacement card.