09-09-17, 01:23 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Buffalo, NY
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ITA with Cyana. This is really serious.
I'm really sorry that the OP had problems setting up the security freezes. We set up security freezes at the 3 major credit bureaus. We didn't have a problem. We will also put fraud alerts on our credit reports. Those only last 3 months, but they can be renewed. Here's some info from the Federal Trade Commission There is a fourth, little-known credit bureau called Innovis. It would be a good idea to set up a freeze there, too. We doubt seriously we will sign up for the free credit monitoring that Equifax is offering. For one thing, it's only for 1 year. For another, Equifax owns the credit monitoring company. IMO the security freeze is a much better way to deal with this. Aside from the security freeze, you should check your bank account and credit card accounts assiduously in real time, rather than wait for monthly statements. Go to the only legitimate free credit report site: AnnualCreditReport.com. Don't bother with the other ones. You can view each report once a year for free. What I do is this--every 4 months, I request a different report--first report is Experian; 4 months later is Equifax; 4 months later is TransUnion. I have this marked on my phone calendar. That way, you see your credit report info 3 times a year from the different companies, and you don't have to pay. I hope this makes sense. Annual Credit Report does not include reports from Innovis; you have to get them from Innovis. I've read in several reputable places that credit monitoring companies (like Lifelock and others, including the ones owned by the credit bureaus) are not really worth the money. Hope some of this helps.
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Betsy There is no way of telling people they are all walking around shining like the sun--Thomas Merton People have done all kinds of remarkable things because they thought they could. People routinely fail to do quite ordinary things because they assume they can't--Reinhard Engels Stay gold, Ponyboy--S.E. Hinton Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try--Ryan Bingham Disclosure: I have a personal relationship with a fitness instructor who has appeared in some videos. |
09-09-17, 01:54 PM | |
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Kittybug - I've read there will be some people who will receive letters by mail, but it did not sound as though they plan to contact everyone who was potentially affected.
Totally agree with Betsy on using annualcreditreport.com to get your reports. You do not have to pay an agency to get these when you can do it for yourself for free - and there are plenty of entities who will charge an arm and a leg to perform this service. I'd never heard of Innovis, so I learned something new today. This would be a good time to sign up for real time notifications from your bank, as well.
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"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway." — Mother Teresa "I've decided to grow old disgracefully." - Twigs |
09-09-17, 02:22 PM | |
Join Date: Jan 2013
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I've had security freezes on the big 3 for at years and just added Innovis last year.
KSleeth, I would keep trying with the other 2. Maybe call them and find out what the problem is? I also think security freezes are more than worth the money and the Equifax debacle proves it. I have had to unfreeze my reports a few times and it was a very easy process. I'm not bothering with the free monitoring service. I check my credit reports regularly throughout the year and not much can be done with my personal info anyway with the freezes in place. And no, they are not sending out notifications to everyone. Only those whose credit card numbers were also accessed in this hack. |
09-09-17, 03:03 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Jul 2008
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I heard a local tech expert on the radio saying that these hackers are sometimes extremely patient about using the data they get -- waiting for all of us to get complacent again, I guess. They also mentioned that a former intern at the radio station had his identity stolen at some point and he was in trouble with police in Mississippi (I think it was), because the thief bought a car using the intern's name, then crashed it, so the authorities were trying to get him to pony up and be responsible for this accident he caused. Except, he didn't. This was apparently after he thought he had fixed his stolen identity problems. Yuck!
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09-09-17, 06:40 PM | ||
VF Supporter
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: TN
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Quote:
eam531 - Thank you for the info on Innovis. I had no idea. I also used the annualcreditreport.com when I initially ran our reports. That is a wonderful idea to check each every 4 months! Thank you everyone for all for your input. I will for sure pass on the monitoring companies and be proactive myself!
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Kim |
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09-09-17, 07:15 PM | |
Join Date: Dec 2001
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I would be highly suspect of anything received via e-mail. If if is something supposedly from a credit reporting agency, I would go to their web site and get the phone number and contact them directly. Typically these official notifications are sent via US mail. People can also spoof phone numbers, so if someone called saying they were your bank, I'd hang up and call your bank directly. Or go in person and speak with your banker.
I've just finished signing up for every notification available from my bank as well as setting up a credit freeze through Innovis.
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"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway." — Mother Teresa "I've decided to grow old disgracefully." - Twigs |
Tags |
data breach, equifax, experian, transunion |
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