I hope you have checked to see if your information was stolen in the Equifax security breach. If not, go to www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. The tab for potential impact is where you initially check your status. Be aware that you enter the last six digits of your Social Security number. Yes, I did this and yes, I am included in the hack. Now we are prompted to enroll in the Equifax program. I have not done this. I am trying to do what my trusted sources have advised. Be mindful that you may see conflicting advice or new advice on “what to do.”
Freeze your credit. Each credit reporting agency must be contacted separately. By freezing your credit, you prevent potential creditors from accessing your credit file, thereby preventing identity thieves from opening accounts in your name. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Because of the millions of Americans who are also doing this, it may take you numerous attempts to complete the process. You may do this online at each credit bureau’s website or by phone. When you freeze your credit, you (or anyone pretending to be you) will be required to unfreeze your account by providing the PIN you got when you froze your credit. So you must keep the PIN in a SAFE place. To freeze your credit, contact each one of the credit bureaus using these phone numbers:
Equifax: 1-800-349-9960
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-888-909-8872
The process is usually automated and can be completed within a few minutes, once you reach them. Just be sure to write down your PINs in a secure place.
Check your credit reports. More than three months have passed since the time the breach may have started and now. We are not sure if the data of those affected was used maliciously during that period, so consider looking through your credit reports for any suspicious activity. You may access your free credit report at annualcreditreport.com.
When looking at your credit report, keep an eye out for new accounts you did not open, late payments on debt you do not recognize and other activity that looks unfamiliar.
If you suspect someone used your identity to open credit cards, take on loans, or reopen closed accounts, contact the credit card company’s fraud department immediately. You are not responsible for charges made on a fraudulent card, but you have to report the issue in a timely manner. For more information on recovering from identity theft, contact the Extension Office.
Set a fraud alert. A fraud alert is another way to make it hard for identity thieves to open accounts in your name. When a fraud alert is set, credit card companies will be required to verify your identity before opening an account. That, combined with the credit freeze, is a great way to keep your credit secure.
To set a fraud alert, contact just one of the credit card bureaus and ask for an initial fraud alert. Once the alert is set, it will last for 90 days. After that, you will have to renew it. Here are the appropriate numbers for the bureaus (remember, just call one):
Equifax: 1-888-766-0008
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289.
For more information about protecting from data breaches, contact Susan Cosgrove, Financial Management Area Extension Agent, at 601-635-7011.
