Credit Agency Compromise
On Thursday September 7th Equifax, one of the main credit reporting and monitoring services, announced their system had been breached. The breach happened in May through July of this year. Potentially 143 million consumers may be affected. Personally identifying information was compromised.
With this tool you can check if your personal information has been compromised. If you have been affected by this breach, you will have the ability to enroll in one year of free credit monitoring. Because of the huge numbers involved, you will be given a date to enroll, such as the image below:
Bookmark the link, and enroll on or after the date listed.
Please be aware that by signing up for the service you could be waiving your right to enter into a class action suit. If you prefer you can do your own monitoring or pay for an unaffiliated service.
In the meantime, visit www.annualcreditreport.com to request your credit reports from Experian and TransUnion the other two major credit reporting services. Check for recent unexplained inquiries and activity.
You may also want to freeze your account at each agency. This will prevent unauthorized activity. If you do need to apply for credit, a simple call can unfreeze. You will need to request a freeze at the three agencies. Links to instructions are below. There may be a fee associated to place the freeze.
For additional information, visit Equifax’s Cybersecurity website.
Patience and vigilance are the keys to ensuring your credit accounts remain safe. For more information, please contact Schneider Downs.
