Your Info Has Been Hacked. Here's What You Should Do

2015-02-05T19:01:26-05:00

FIRST THINGS FIRST

— Notify the credit agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and request a 90-day credit alert. (Each reporting agency is supposed to notify the others, but you may want to contact all three yourself.) The alert tells businesses to contact you before opening any new accounts in your name. You can renew the alert every 90 days, or you're entitled to keep it in effect for seven years if you find that your identity is stolen and file a report with police.

— You might consider asking the reporting agencies to place a full freeze on your credit. This blocks any business from checking your credit to open a new account, so it's a stronger measure than a credit alert. BUT you should weigh that against the hassle of notifying credit agencies to lift the freeze — which can take a few days — every time you apply for a loan, open a new account or even sign up for utility service.

Read more:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/info-hacked-28753691

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Response by Lt Col Fred Marheine, PMP made Feb 5 at 2015 7:31 PM

2015-02-05T19:31:35-05:00

No question that I discern, but I'll pile on the ole "free advice" bandwagon.

Change your passwords! Any account that used the same password (be honest...) is vulnerable - change it.

Stay vigilant - hackers can count to 90...had mine stolen a while back...ok, I dropped my wallet in the parking lot, but still...92 days after implementing a full credit lockdown, bad guys (who apparently needed a 65" TV) opened two $5K accounts at Bloomingdales. Still dealing with that as it pops back up on my credit every 18 months or so. Seems this requires a separate police report from the original theft. Bottom line - none of this is simple once it happens: best to stay in front of it if possible.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 17 at 2019 9:36 PM

2019-08-17T21:36:28-04:00

This provides good information, Take heed!