A woman typing on her laptop at her desk.
Key Takeaways:
- Get a checklist from Identity Theft.gov (FTC) to help walk you through the process.
- Request copies of your minor credit reports, correct any errors & freeze credit.
- Obtain a copy of the list of consumer reporting agencies from Consumer Financial Protect Bureau. Correct any errors.
- Consider locking your Social Security account.
What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You
The largest data breach used to be Equifax, now it’s National Public Data (NPD). The Equifax data breach impacted 148 million people, NPD possibly leaked 2.9 Billion records, impacting many Americans. NPD proves even large organizations can fail to do basic security well.
You can check if your information was leaked in the breach at https://www.npdbreach.com/ or https://npd.pentester.com/
Your data is out there. It is compromised and you should care, because your data is a roadmap to your MONEY. If you care about nothing else, think about the impact to your bank account and bottom line, not to mention the damage to your credit, your business, your reputation, your family, your life.
Cyber Thieves Don’t Discriminate
Identity thieves don’t discriminate about the data they steal. Everyone is a target, including you. Hoping your data won’t get stolen is no protection against data thieves; Just like hoping that you don’t have a car wreck, is no protection against getting rear-ended. No matter how much you hope, you still need to buy an insurance policy.
Your Personal Information
If your identity was stolen as a part of the NPD breach, a criminal can use your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to open bank accounts, credit cards, file taxes in your name, or even take out student loans, without your knowledge. Your very reputation is now at risk, as a result of a data breach.
Fraud Alerts
So what can you do about it? You can place fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus (and the minor credit bureaus), Transunion, Equifax (the irony) and Experian. Notifying the credit agencies won’t necessarily notify all your institutions, however it will red flag any suspicious transactions, such as attempts to open new bank accounts or lines of credit. Call your individual banks and credit card companies to also place fraud alerts on those accounts as well.
Credit Reports and Why They Matter
Additionally, order a free copy of your credit report for the three major credit reporting agencies at AnnualCreditReport.com and continue to monitor your accounts. A free credit report can help you identify any problems or possible fraudulent activity. If you want to submit a request offline, you can mail the form located at AnnualCreditReport.com.
What About Freezing Credit?
In addition to fraud alerts, consider freezing your credit. By freezing your credit with all three credit bureaus, Transunion, Equifax and Experian, no new accounts or lines of credit can be opened in your name, until you unfreeze your credit. Freezing your credit does not/not prevent your current accounts from being used by identity thieves, nor does it protect you from tax fraud (someone filing taxes in your name).
Looking over your bank and credit cards statements monthly can prevent additional fraud, especially if you’re on top of the transactions and your cash flow. Don’t assume credit reporting agencies can protect your information better than you can.
Reports From Minor Credit Reporting Agencies
In addition to the major credit bureaus, which will cover about 90% of your credit history, consider checking out your credit reports from these other credit bureaus. This is not difficult but does take some time.
As with all your credit reports, identify the data included in each report and correct any errors you find. There are sometimes things on your credit reports that are not accurate. While the three major credit bureaus have access to the bulk of your data, they often access credit information from the minor reporting agencies as well.
Service: Chex
Website: https://www.chexsystems.com/security-freeze/information
By Phone: 1-800-428-9623 or 1-800-887-7652
Notes: Complete the online request.
By Mail:
Chex Systems, Inc.
Attn: Security Freeze Department
PO Box 583399
Minneapolis, MN 55458
To submit a request for a minor’s credit freeze:
You must be 18 years of age or older to communicate with ChexSystems. To submit a request on behalf of a minor, a parent or legal guardian must send the request in writing to ChexSystems by mail. All of the following documentation must be included:
- A copy of the minor’s birth certificate;
- A legible copy of the minor’s Social Security card;
- A legible copy of the parent or legal guardian’s driver’s license or state identification card;
- Proof of address for the parent or legal guardian (in the form of a pay stub, utility bill or other official document bearing the address to which correspondence is to be sent);
- If your name does not appear on the birth certificate, a copy of a document confirming legal guardianship is required. The proof of guardianship must be an official court or other legally binding document; and
- Correspondence must include consumer’s full name, current address, date of birth, Social Security number, and current PIN, if available.
Service: CoreLogic Credco
Website: https://www.corelogic.com/support/credco-consumer-assistance/
By Phone: 1-800-637-2422
Notes: Call to request your report.
By Mail:
Credco’s Consumer Services Department is available to assist you with any inquiries you may have, such as researching an inquiry on your credit report, obtaining a copy of a Credco report with your information or disputing information in a report. You may contact us by phone or by mail:
- By phone:
(800) 637-2422. Our customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST to assist you - By mail:
Credco
Consumer Services Department
P.O. Box 509124
San Diego, CA 92150 - Related to Human Trafficking – by mail:
Credco
Consumer Services Department
9645 Granite Ridge Dr Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123
Please be sure to include your first, middle and last name, as well as your Social Security number, current address, date of birth and signature on any written request.
Service: Innovis
Website: https://www.innovis.com/
By Phone: 1-800-540-2505 or 1-866-712-4546
Notes: Complete the online request.
By Mail: Here is the PDF form https://www.innovis.com/assets/InnovisSecurityFreezeRequest-a077e8184c4b18f75f792477e96caf67.pdf
Please mail this form and documentation in support of the your request to:
Innovis Consumer Assistance
PO Box 530088
Atlanta, GA 30353-0088
Service: LexisNexis
Website: https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/request
Contact: 1-888-497-0011
Notes: Complete the online request.
Service: MicroBilt Connect
Website: https://microbiltconnect.com/consumer-affairs
By Phone: 1-888-222-7621
Notes: Complete the online request.
By Mail:
MicroBilt
Attn: Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 440693
Kennesaw, GA 30160
Phone: 888-222-7621
Service: NCTUE
Website: https://nctue.com/consumer/
By Phone: 866-349-5185
Notes: Call to request your report.
By Mail: You can write to request your consumer report.
NCTUE Disclosure Report
Exchange Service Center – NCTUE
P.O. Box 105161
Atlanta, GA 30348
Consumer Reporting Companies & Reports
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) maintains a list of consumer reporting agencies. These types of consumer reports have more influence on approval for lines of credit, employment background checks, banks, rentals, medical, ID verification, utilities, and insurance. Obtaining some of these reports and reviewing them, allows you to dispute and report inaccuracies with companies, as needed.
You can find the list provided by CFPB here and though the list might seem overwhelming, take it one report at a time. The goal is awareness, and mitigation, as you’re able to work through the reports, and decide what information you’d like removed.
Locking or Unlocking Your Social Security Number
You can open your Social Security account at My Social Security as a way of protecting your information. Remember to keep your social security documents in a safe place and be careful about sharing your number. If you’re asked for your SSN, you should ask why the number is needed and how it’s being used.
You can apply a self-lock to your SSN through E-Verify, which is a government service that allows employers to verify a worker’s employment eligibility. You’ll create a log in or E-Verify account, select three challenge questions and provide answers. If an employer tries to confirm your number for employment authorization you will have to unlock your Social Security record first.
Another option for protecting your SSN is you can request to Block Electronic Access. Once you’ve requested this, no one, including you will be able to see or change your personal information on the internet or through an automated telephone service. Keep in mind, you will need to prove your identity to have the block removed. This process is all done by phone.
Differences Between a Social Security Lock & Credit Freeze
A credit freeze is free, can be applied at any time, and can be temporary or long-term, until you remove it. Credit freeze locks access to your credit reports, preventing someone (including you) from opening new accounts. Credit freeze can be applied to the three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, Transunion, and the minor credit bureaus.
Have a Plan
The best way to combat identity thieves is with a plan. If you have a plan, you take back control of your identity, and go to bed feeling safe at night, even if your information was compromised. Start simple, acknowledge identity theft occurred, and shift to making a plan to combat the problem. Report your identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), at IdentityTheft.gov, get a to-do list based on your type of identity theft, and go through that list step-by-step. It takes some patience, but following through will save you money, time, and your sanity.
Final Thoughts
In next week’s blog we’ll tackle locking down your IRS Tax account, and USPS Mail accounts to help mitigate identity theft. Since there’s a lot of information covered each blog, we’re spacing it out to help you get the most out of them.
If you have questions or concerns or need a bit of additional help, you can book a consultation with us and we’ll help walk you through the steps.