Identify Theft Prevention

[Whisky]

I'm still waiting to hear specifics, but it sounds like a hacker got a lot of my personal info. SS# for all my family, bank accounts, health insurance and other benefits info, basically any personal info your employer would have on you. Which is a lot.

It sounds like we will get a little money to put towards an Equifax membership, for one year. I will be signing up. Will i and my family need to utilize this service forever? I intend to inform my bank tomorrow. What about credit card companies? What others steps can a person take? Will passwords for company 401k, etc need to be changed?

The breach happened two months ago and those affected are just finding out now. Any advice from people familiar with this sort of thing is welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks

 

[701FishSlayer]

https://lifelock.norton.com/

 

[mikef]

I got 2-3 of those notices in the last year and wound up buying LifeLock

 

[BULLMOOSE]

I'm still waiting to hear specifics, but it sounds like a hacker got a lot of my personal info. SS# for all my family, bank accounts, health insurance and other benefits info, basically any personal info your employer would have on you. Which is a lot.

It sounds like we will get a little money to put towards an Equifax membership, for one year. I will be signing up. Will i and my family need to utilize this service forever? I intend to inform my bank tomorrow. What about credit card companies? What others steps can a person take? Will passwords for company 401k, etc need to be changed?

The breach happened two months ago and those affected are just finding out now. Any advice from people familiar with this sort of thing is welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks

In my opinion thats a scam to sign up for Equifax. I have gotten those letters before and nothing came about it.

 

[Pheasant 54]

Just freeze your accounts with the big 3 reporting services . Then anyone that tries to open an account get a loan etc. Is shut down

 

[Slappy]

Just freeze your accounts with the big 3 reporting services . Then anyone that tries to open an account get a loan etc. Is shut down

This is the correct answer. Paying for any service is ripping off yourself.

Also a good idea to change passwords occasionally for online banking and other logins. Keep an eye on accounts so you can report fraud as soon as possible.

 

[johnr]

Cash under a mattress is fool proof.

 

[Kurtr]

We got hacked for real last year they got in my wifes email and then bank accounts it was a real mother fucker fixing it all. Seems week passwords were the culprit. Shit even netflix got hacked we got locked out of the accout i will say this netflix customer service was top notch 15 minutes on the phone and they got it all resolved it was some ass hole from bangladesh is what the guy helping me said.

 

[Zogman]

In my opinion thats a scam to sign up for Equifax. I have gotten those letters before and nothing came about it.

Agree. I have had a few of those emails also.

 

[Allen]

All the banks I deal with have the ability for you to set up alerts on your accounts. You can get text alerts for money coming in, and money going out, profile changes, accessing your account from a new IP address, etc, etc. Keeping good passwords is your first line of defense, but these alerts along with the banks' own algorithms for detecting fraud are pretty good nowadays.

 

[jdfisherman]

Cash under a mattress is fool proof.

Until the house burns down when you're not home.

 

[risingsun]

Until the house burns down when you're not home.

He is a insurance machine. He will make sure it comes out.

 

[johnr]

Until the house burns down when you're not home.

Gold bars and such

 

[Obi-Wan]

Hackers need to be executed immediately.

My son was playing on line on his x-box and some random guy on the site got his information and charged a couple x-box games on my card. I called x-box directly and after a few questions and 15-20 minutes it was resolved. The guy from x-box told me the chargers would re reversed and said the guy would have to get himself a new x-box as he had just remotely fried the guys box remotely.

 

[Wall-eyes]

Equifax is biggest joke they cause more issues than they fix, I know first hand ficking a-holes

 

[Whisky]

Equifax is biggest joke they cause more issues than they fix, I know first hand ficking a-holes

Do elaborate!

I did sign up for Equifax. I got an activation code through my employer that lead to a 1 yr prepaid membership. So that is not a scam. I am curious after this year is up, what better options exist. And why Equifax isn't good.

Additionally, I just placed a credit freeze at the 3 companies.

I'm not overly worried about credit card or debit card fraud. I've been through both of those before and it's pretty painless. Identify Theft worries me a bit more, as I read up on it.

 

[701FishSlayer]

If your watching your credit you'll need more than just equifax. Have to watch the other guys too. Some report when others don't. Might show up on transunion but not equifax.

 

[lunkerslayer]

The fact that hackers can get access to your phone even though you have security app through Verizon. Last fall my phone was cloned and someone had control of my phone where they had access to my PayPal, venmo, and debit card. Ended up losing 800 dollars and one credit card that was used to make purchases in new jerseys. They tried to get more money and even calling my bank to get access to my account. Now if I have any questionable activity from any of my accounts I get a text message to verify any activity. There is no way crypto currency or digital money will be used by majority of the people in this country.

 

[701FishSlayer]

I use crypto nearly everyday. It's what poker sites pay you out in nowadays.

 

[Eatsleeptrap]

I may be old, but phones are for phone calls. Any "phone" with personal financial information on it should be smashed with a hammer and have gasoline poured on it.