A woman typing on a laptop at her desk.
If you’ve seen the headlines you’ve probably heard about data breaches and thought, “There’s 10 other dumpster fires, why does this one matter?” In this case, the breach of National Public Data (NPD), a consumer data broker recently leaked hundreds of millions of Social Security Numbers, addresses and phone numbers online. You can check if your information was leaked in the breach at https://www.npdbreach.com/ or https://npd.pentester.com/
If you’d like more details on the breach, you can visit Krebs on Security for a thorough run-down of what occurred. Wired also wrote a good article on what occurred and what is known now about the breach. In the meantime, let’s focus on steps you can take today to help prevent identity theft.
Key Takeaways:
- Request copies of your credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- Correct any errors or false information on your credit reports.
- Freeze your credit reports with the major credit reporting agencies.
- Check to see if your child or children have a credit report.
- Freeze your child’s credit.
Request Copies of Your Credit Reports
You’re entitled to obtain a copy of your free credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) from the three major consumer reporting bureaus. You can obtain them weekly online, if needed.
A free credit report will identify all of your current open accounts (bank, credit cards, loans) and can help you find any problems or fraudulent activity. The official government-authorized site to obtain your free credit reports is AnnualCreditReport.com. The website allows you to get your credit report, with no fees, once a week. If you don’t want to submit the request online, you can mail the form here from Annual Credit Report.
Service: Equifax
Website: https://www.annualcreditreport.com
By Phone: 877-322-8228
Notes: Complete the online request.
Service: Experian
Website: https://www.annualcreditreport.com
By Phone: 877-322-8228
Notes: Complete the online request.
Service: TransUnion
Website: https://www.annualcreditreport.com
By Phone: 877-322-8228
Notes: Complete the online request.
Correct Your Credit Reports
Credit reporting agencies and lenders, by law, are required to delete inaccurate, false, or incomplete information contained in your credit reports. You can dispute or correct information on your credit reports by clicking on one of the links below:
Correct Experian Credit Report
Correct TransUnion Credit Report
Freeze Your Credit Reports
If you’re concerned about your information, a credit freeze is the next step for you. Assume your identity is available through multiple sources, given the number of data breaches that occur involving SSN data and other information about you.
A credit freeze prohibits credit reporting agencies from releasing your credit reports to new lenders or open new accounts without your authorization.
How to Freeze Your Credit
You can establish a credit freeze either online or by phone. You can temporarily unfreeze your credit reports online or by phone when you need to open a new account or if you want to apply for new loans and credit cards.
Click on the links below to freeze or unfreeze your credit reports online or by phone with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Service: Experian
Website: https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
By Phone: 1-888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
By Mail: Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
Written requests should include the following information:
- Your full name
- Social Security number
- Complete addresses for the past two years
- Date of birth
- A government issued identification card, such as a driver’s license
- Copy of a utility bill or bank statement
Ensure that each copy is legible and displays your name, current mailing address and issue date. Updating your security freeze or unfreeze will take up to 3 days upon receiving your mailed request.
Service: Equifax
Website: https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
By Phone: 1-888-EQUIFAX (1-888-378-4329) OR 1-800-349-9960 OR 1-800-685-1111
By Mail: Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
Mail-in form is here: https://assets.equifax.com/assets/personal/Security_Freeze_Request_Form.pdf
Service: TransUnion
Website: https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
By Phone: 1-800-916-8800
By Mail: If you want to change your freeze by mail, send a written request to:
TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094
Your request should include one proof of Social Security number and two proofs of your current address. All documents should reflect your current name and be unexpired. Please only submit photocopies of your documents. These can include:
Identity (Provide 1):
- Social Security card
- Letter from Social Security Administration
- Military ID
- Medicaid or Medicare card
Address (Provide 2):
- Driver’s license with current address
- Utility bill
- Bank or credit union statement
- Canceled check
- Pay stub
- Signed homeless shelter letter
- Prison ID letter
- Stamped post office box receipt
- Government-issued ID
- State ID card
Freeze Your Child’s Credit Reports
By law, parents or guardians can order a security credit freeze for children under the age of 16. When you order a child credit freeze, the credit reporting agencies are legally required to freeze a minor child’s credit file. A child credit freeze prohibits credit reporting agencies from releasing your child’s credit report to any lenders.
The process to freeze your child’s credit is slightly different than freezing your own credit. You can request a freeze your child’s credit, in writing, by clicking these links below. Because the credit reporting agencies need to verify your guardianship of the child, there are additional documents you must provide.
Service: Experian
Website: https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html
By Phone: 1-888-397-3742
By Mail:
How to send your information:
In order for us to find out if Experian’s database contains credit information about your minor child, you will need to write to them with all of the following:
- Printed form with the information provided above
- A copy of your driver’s license or another government issued identification card, such as a state ID card
- Proof of your address, such as a copy of a bank statement, utility bill, insurance statement
- A copy of your child’s birth certificate
- Proof of guardianship, if not named on child’s birth certificate
- A copy of your child’s Social Security card
Mail this form to:
Experian
PO Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
Overnight Mail:
Experian
701 Experian Parkway
Allen, TX 75013
Further details are available on their website.
Service: Equifax
Website: https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/identity-theft/articles/-/learn/freezing-your-childs-credit-report-faq/
By Mail: https://assets.equifax.com/assets/personal/Minor_Freeze.pdf
You’ll need to provide copies of documentation that verify your identity; the minor dependent’s identity; and your relationship to the minor dependent.
To prove your identity, please provide copies of one (1) of the following pieces of identification:
- A copy of your driver’s license or other government-issued identification
- A copy of your Social Security card
- A copy of your birth certificate
To prove you are the child’s parent or authorized representative, please provide copies of one (1) of the following pieces of documentation:
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate
- A copy of a court order
- A copy of a lawfully executed and valid power of attorney
- A copy of a foster care certification
To validate the child’s identity, please provide copies of both of the following:
- A copy of the child’s Social Security card
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate
Mail the form to:
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
Service: TransUnion
Website:
Link to check for child identity theft: https://www.transunion.com/credit-disputes/child-identity-theft-inquiry-form
If you are a parent or guardian of a minor and would like to freeze their credit report, you can do this by adding a protected consumer freeze to their credit file. Here’s what you’ll need to provide:
- A written request to place a “protected consumer freeze” on the named individual’s file
- AND a copy of one piece of documentation that provides ‘sufficient proof of authority’ that you have authority to act on behalf of the minor or dependent such as:
- An order issued by a court of law
- A lawfully executed and valid power of attorney
- A document issued by a Federal, State, or local government agency in the United States showing proof of parentage, including a birth certificate
- With respect to a protected consumer who has been placed in a foster care setting, a written communication from a county welfare department or its agent or designee, or a county probation department or its agent or designee, certifying that the protected consumer is in a foster care setting under its jurisdiction.
- AND information or copies of documentation confirming your identity AND the identity of the minor/dependent. Information or documentation needs to provide ‘sufficient proof of identification’ that you and the minor/dependent are who you really are, such as a:
- Social Security number or a copy of a Social Security card
- Certified or official copy of a birth certificate issued by the entity authorized to issue the birth certificate
- Copy of a driver’s license, an identification card issued by the motor vehicle administration, or any other government issued identification
Please only send copies of documents, not original documents.
Send everything here:
TransUnion
P.O. Box 380
Woodlyn, PA 19094
Final Thoughts
Next week you’ll learn all about freezing your minor credit reports, and further steps you can take, and why that might be the right action for you. The series of posts will be available in a PDF format for download shortly. If you need immediate assistance or are overwhelmed by the process you can schedule a consultation and we’ll walk you through it.
The guidance included in this article does not constitute legal advice and is for educational purposes only.