Equifax breech

[Rebel SS]

Equifax, one of the three huge credit reporting agencies, had a breach that released personal data and SS#'s of 143 MILLION people. To check and see if you were one of those (highly recommended) go to this link and follow the instructions. If you ARE, alert your bank and credit card companies, check your personal banking accts and all your credit card accts at least once a week. You can also lock your credit card until you intend to use it., with some CC companies. Since this data could be stored and used for years down the road, it's a good habit to get into of checking your banking/card accts weekly. I do. Caught a breach on my VISA Card yday that way.....if you report it within 60 days, you are not liable for any charges. Debit cards vary with yer institution. Know yer rules and polices, and what to do. Check your accts weekly like I do, and you should be OK if you catch a breach...., oh, and on the back of the credit card where it says to sign your name, DON'T.....write instead "Ask for ID" That way if you lose it, anyone trying to use it must show valid ID...and they're sunk. I also like having a credir=t card from your local Credit Union, which usually has the best rates, anyway. My VISA Platinum is free, and has a yearly IR of .9%  Also, you can trot right into your credit union, cancel your card, and they make ya a new one right there! (Debit card...CC's are still mail outs) I'm with Affinity Plus CC, and always had everything done in 30 mns, with no problems. Tips from Reb. 

Link to check:    https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/am-i-impacted/

[Jerkbiat]

Thanks for the link Rebs. Looks like both the wife and I were not impacted by the breech. yet 

[JohnWester]

i think the link to check to see if you are impacted is a scam site to try and route you to enroll in their 1 year id theft deal... which if you sign up, waves your rights to sue if your identity is stolen. (read the fine print)

[Rebel SS]

Boy, ya just can't try to help some folks. Believe what you want, but please provide a better link for a site check.
I posted this at the request of members to help others. Give it a whirl.

[snow1]

Not just cc companies,the deaslership I work for and I'm sure all others around the country use equifax when they finance vehicles,bad deal! for all.

[Steve-o]

I *think* that Equifax backed off on their statement that signing up for 1 free year of "protection" service would cause you to waive your legal rights against the company.

However, I'm opting to NOT sign up for the service because they will automatically start charging customers for the service after the first free year has expired, which means they will have the gaul to ask me for my credit card after they just gave away my social security number.

In addition to closer monitoring, I believe the best course of action is to "freeze" your credit at each of the 4 credit bureaus, Equifax being one of them.  Each "feeeze" transaction will cost $5 (free if you make a report with the police after someone has actually tried to use your identity) - and you will have to manually unlock/authorize your own credit information release when you need to make a major purchase or open a new account - but it is the only way to make sure someone else doesn't use your information and credit to steal your identity.

I think there are three types of people:
Those who know their information has been stolen,
Those whose information has been stolen, but they don't yet know it, and
Those whose information will be stolen.

Hackers insert their software and it operates for months before companies figure it out.  How many other active breaches are out there right now?

[mike89]

well all I can say is when this was first reported I checked my identity and the site was very helpful and did not try to get me to sign up for anything extra....

so I think it's not a scam site, just my 2 cents worth......

[mike89]

well said Steve-o.....

[LPS]

If it was a hard sale scam I would think they would say everyone is impacted so you enrolled in the Scam program..  I am not impacted.....