By Martha Peppones
Nutrition and Wellness Program Director
Homage Senior Services
The Equifax data breach is one of the largest in history, affecting half of the U.S. population and nearly three-quarters of consumers with credit reports. The stolen information contains sensitive personal data that can be used for identity theft, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth and, in some cases, driver’s license numbers.
As a credit reporting agency, Equifax collects information about consumers and how they handle their finances. It then sells this information to lenders and credit scoring companies to determine eligibility for loans, lines of credit and even employment.
You could be affected even if you don’t bank online or think you’re a customer of Equifax.
Identity theft tops the list of consumer com- plaints made to the Federal Trade Commission and other enforcement agencies every year.
Another risk of this breach is tax identity theft, in which crooks file phony tax returns in an older adult’s name. Equifax said it will send paper mail to consumers whose credit card numbers or documents with personally identifying information were impacted. There is also a dedicated website for consumers to see if they were affected, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com.
Consumers affected by the breach should consider a security freeze. This prevents a thief from using stolen information to establish a new credit account in the older adult’s name.
Consumers can freeze their credit reports at all three major credit bureaus as a protection against stolen information being used to fraudulently apply for credit using reports from Experian or TransUnion as well.
Information about security freezes is available from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the FTC. To place a freeze on your credit reports, call the credit reporting companies. There are three big ones — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — and one smaller one, Innovis. It’s a good idea to freeze your credit at all four.
Here are the numbers to call:
Equifax: 800-349-9960
Experian: 888-397-3742
TransUnion: 888-909-8872
Innovis: 800-540-2505
It may be difficult to get through as they are overwhelmed with phone calls. Fortunately, for Washington state residents, there is no cost to start or lift a freeze for consumers 65 and older.
The National Consumer Law Center has published a free article offering detailed advice on security freezes, fraud alerts, credit monitoring, and other steps consumers can take to minimize the risks from the Equifax data breach: www.nclc.org/media-center/statement-nclc-staff-attorney-equifax-data-breach-09112017.html
More information:
http://states.aarp.org/equifax-breach-need-know
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
