The Equifax Security Breach Exposes Nearly Half of U.S. Consumers to Identify Theft
With credit-reporting firm Equifax revealing that hackers may have stolen financial and consumer data on at least 143 million customers in the U.S., it’s quite possible that your personal information — including birth date, Social Security number, driver’s license and address — could fall into the hands of criminals. Equifax said that it hasn’t found evidence of unauthorized activity on its core consumer or commercial credit-reporting databases. But criminals could use the treasure trove of personal information acquired in the breach to apply for credit cards and loans in your name, access your bank accounts and establish a phony presence online with email and social media accounts. Equifax is one of three major consumer credit-reporting agencies, with data on more than 820 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide. “Given the kind of data, the potential for financial fraud, and identity theft is quite high,’’ said cybersecurity expert Mark Nunnikhoven of security software firm Trend Micro. Equifax has created a website (equifaxsecurity2017.com) where consumers can find out if their personal data has been compromised and is at risk. Consumers can also enroll for complimentary identity-theft protection and credit-file monitoring. The credit protection service is free for 12 months for consumers — not just breach victims — who sign up by Nov. 21st. How to Contact the 3 Credit Reporting Bureaus Equifax: www.equifax.com 1-800-685-1111 (Credit Report Inquiries); 1-888-766-0008 (Place Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report) Experian: www.Experian.com 1-888-397-3742 (Credit Report/Dispute Information/Fraud & Identity Theft) TransUnion: www.TransUnion.com 1-800-493-2392 (Credit Monitoring Service Inquiries); 1-800-888-4213 (Purchase a Credit Report or Get Free Annual Report)
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The St. Lawrence County Chapter (SLCC) #2831 is a community of advocacy and volunteers whose purpose is to 1) promote at the local level the priorities, programs and policies specific for the benefit of our seniors, 2) maximize member engagement in a broad menu of services, information and educational activities, 3) demonstrate the contributions and potential of people who are 50+ to encourage their full participation in contemporary life, 4) create fundraising opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency, and 5) stimulate public interest in a variety of issues.
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November 2019
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