OFF TOPIC PSA

Moderators may have an issue with this post and I understand that if you do.

As some of you may know there was a data breach of 100's of millions of
Social Security Numbers.

You can check if yours was in the breach here:
https://npdbreach.com/

Be sure to check in every state you have lived in.
Mine was found in 3 of the 6 states I have lived in.

If found, then Freeze your Credit....

 

Thanks! I support this.

 

Good info!

 

Adding onto this! If you freeze your credit, make sure to do so with all three credit bureaus. In addition, most banks nowadays have free credit monitoring so you can check your credit history (and score) as often as you'd like.

You can see how to freeze your credit with all three credit bureaus at the following link:

https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-education/preventing-fraud/security-freeze/

 

It should be said that freezing your credit should be easy but is a massive pain in the dick.

#fightclubwasright

 

Honestly- unless you're actively shopping for a line of credit, you should freeze (or at the least set up alerts).

 

I did not enter my info into that site ... yet. Sorry OP but my spidey-sense makes me want to check first ... but thanks for the warning it may have happened.

Freeze means you cannot open new credit until you unfreeze, but existing credit lines (credit cards) may report your current credit score on your bill ... they can because they have the connection already.

 

I would recommend freezing your credit whether or not you were a part of the breach.

 

Unless you MUST open a new credit card every time you go to Best Buy or Target (or ...) no need to keep your credit unlocked.

 

Just so you know, credit freezing and unfreezing is free with all the credit bureaus. A credit Lock may charge you a fee. Here is a good article on credit Freezing and credit Locking and what to expect from each.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/credit-lock-and-credit-freeze

 

exactly.......that site looked jickey

 

OP announces data breech and then provides a link to click for more info? I'll wait for the movie.

PS: my credit has been frozen for the last 10 years. I don't borrow money.

 

When you unfreeze ... prepare for quick action on your part. I unfroze (begrudgingly) once, and within 2 hours someone started the process of opening a credit card in my name. Chase bank was notified and they killed the application. Police/Chase did not reveal the identity/address/anything about the criminal, as police/banks often treat the intended victim. I immediately refroze and told the person I unfroze it for "tough luck".

 

My credit cards have enough credit to buy a good-used/cheap-new car. I keep them because hotels/rental-cars like them better than debit cards AND I can protect my bank account from hotels/rental-car. Now my new utility company does not send paper bills so I use CC to pay the monthly tab but IMMEDIATELY pay off the charges.

 

FU national public data and all the other places that gather your info without your permission and don't protect it. How are they not getting sued? There's lots of them out there. And places like insurance companies etc use them. WTF.

Freeze your credit at all 3 credit bureaus. Once frozen, and you want to let someone in (like to get a new credit card) it is easy to unfreeze
temporarily. Even better if you know which bureau they will use so you can just unfreeze that one. It is just a few clicks once you log into the account you created at the bureau to freeze it in the first place. Easy to refreeze when you are all finished too.
This should have been done LONG AGO. Note this freeze does not lock out creditors you already have a relationship with.

Enable ALL alerts at banks and credit cards to send you email or text for EVERY transaction. Nice confirmation for legitimate transactions and easy to throw away. Invaluable if something goes wrong.

Place a Fraud Alert with one of the bureaus which will last for one year. It does not hurt anything but requires more stringent checking of your identity if you are trying to get credit. Worth it in my opinion.
Recommended by credit monitors if you are on the list posted above.
And accept free credit monitoring due to breaches when offered.

You don't have to run faster than the bear, just faster than the person running alongside you. These steps are not that cumbersome for you but will likely make scammers move on to easier pickings.

EDIT: forgot to mention, Freeze needs to be done at each of 3 credit bureaus. Fraud alerts only need to be set at one of them. They will notify the other two.

 

Credit has been frozen for years. State of Vermont compromised my information in three different data breaches. If you can't trust the government with your information, who can you trust. I give up!.

 

Wait, so I am supposed to enter sensitive personal information into that website I never heard of?

 

I have already been targeted by the evil-doers using that data; someone tried opening credit in my name using all seven of my former addresses dating back to 1988. Fortunately I have all three of my credit files locked; do it today folks, those bastards are actively trying to steal as much money as possible as quickly as possible.

 

Then don't bother, just go to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion and freeze your credit files.

 

i agree. be cautious. just assume your info is compromised (it will be soon if not already) and freeze things and setup alerts.
don't enter info in random sites.