NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Sept 9, 2017 8:39:15 GMT -5
For what it's worth, I'm betting it's not next year we have to worry about, it's 3-5 years from now. If I were the thief, I'd just sit on the numbers until the hubbub died down and all the monitoring periods expired. With that volume of data, I can wait a few years to start pulling triggers. So true. That is why I did a little research about freezing my credit. The time frame varies from state to state so folks need to be aware of that also. I think if a person wants to freeze their credit it should be for life if they so chose. Just pay fee to unfreeze when necessary. But "they" didn't ask me
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Sept 9, 2017 8:45:22 GMT -5
Agreed! Between this, OPM, T-Mobile, and whatever we haven't found out about yet, I think a freeze may be the only safe option left.
What's scary about this though is that it could include bank accounts and credit cards, both of which I use regularly. So now I wonder if I have to open some precautionary accounts in case I need to quickly shift stuff over.
Has it been confirmed whether whatever method the breach was done has been patched? Otherwise, what's the point?
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Sept 9, 2017 8:57:39 GMT -5
Just froze Equifax and Transunion, will do Experian later. Equifax was easy, Transunion a PITA (had to resurrect sign-in details from ages ago when I used annualcreditreport.com) and Experian tried to sell me something that lets me lock and unlock on my own for $5/month instead of a one-time charge to lock and then $5 to temporarily unlock if I apply for credit. Need to poke through the menus some more. And it makes me happy that they'll have fewer prospects to sell to the credit card issuers as a result of so many people freezing their credit info. Maybe it will stem the tide of $450 annual fee cards I keep getting in the mail. Check the link I posted about individual state laws. I wouldn't sign up for monthly anything in this case. Unless you think you would be locking/unlocking a lot no way would I pay a monthly fee. JMHO
ETA: if you had to pay a fee to freeze, did they ask for a CC for the fee?
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Sept 9, 2017 17:35:22 GMT -5
I was only able to get on the Experian site this morning. Didn't try to sell me anything. Cost $10.
Going to freeze other two also. Have no plans on getting a loan.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2017 19:25:59 GMT -5
Check the link I posted about individual state laws. I wouldn't sign up for monthly anything in this case. Unless you think you would be locking/unlocking a lot no way would I pay a monthly fee. JMHO ETA: if you had to pay a fee to freeze, did they ask for a CC for the fee? I eventually found the single-payment option. And yeah, they wanted a credit card for the $5 charge. Sigh. What can you do? Fortunately I have only 2 credit cards and monitor them frequently. I'd spot a fraudulent charge pretty quickly.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Sept 10, 2017 9:05:46 GMT -5
I have now frozen my credit. It can be lifted if need be. I don't plan on doing that. I don't want to take the chance of somebody opening credit in my name. The freeze should prevent that.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Sept 10, 2017 9:28:43 GMT -5
OT: Experian is making the best of the Equifax breach!!!
Saw more than one commercial last night: Is your personal data on the Dark Web? Let us protect you. Go to Experian dot com or something like that.
Had a good LOL moment!!
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Sept 10, 2017 10:43:45 GMT -5
okay, all three are now frozen. $5 charge each for Experian and TransUnion. no charge for Equifax. I was able to do all of it online, although it took a bit of searching to get to "freeze" rather than whatever pay monitoring service they offer.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Sept 11, 2017 10:19:09 GMT -5
Just learned that one of our value-added benefits with our health insurance is free identity theft protection through Experian. Might have to check into that.
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Ryan
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Post by Ryan on Sept 11, 2017 11:30:01 GMT -5
I did the following freezes for both my wife and myself Equifax, Transunion, Innovis, and ChexSystems. Having some problems with both my wife and I on Experian and they want me to mail something in. I'm going to try again though.
Wondering if I should freeze the accounts of my kids as well.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Sept 11, 2017 11:39:30 GMT -5
I may have been Equifaxed. Credit card fraud just emailed and called me to tell me someone today tried to use one of my credit cards numbers online to try and purchase something from Spotify USA for $9.99 and The Pampered Chef for $349.28. I'm not being charged for it and they are issuing a new credit card and number.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Sept 11, 2017 19:01:16 GMT -5
you may just want to put a freeze on your reports. sorry, dude.
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Sept 11, 2017 20:19:14 GMT -5
I did the following freezes for both my wife and myself Equifax, Transunion, Innovis, and ChexSystems. Having some problems with both my wife and I on Experian and they want me to mail something in. I'm going to try again though. Wondering if I should freeze the accounts of my kids as well. I would ryan. You can't be too safe especially with the scope of this breach.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Sept 11, 2017 20:22:03 GMT -5
you may just want to put a freeze on your reports. sorry, dude. I did yesterday.
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dee27
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Post by dee27 on Sept 11, 2017 20:43:33 GMT -5
My query only gave me a date to sign up for protection. I am weary of all these mass hacks; I think this is the fourth one where our data may have been stolen.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Sept 11, 2017 20:46:21 GMT -5
apparently that means that you've been affected. that's the same message I got the first time I checked. I guess the website's been updated with clearer messages since.
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Sept 12, 2017 7:50:50 GMT -5
I received a "may have been" included when I checked to see if I was involved. Either way, I just froze Experian, Equifax & Transunion.
I have a date of 9-13-2017 that I'm supposed to go to the Equifax site of: faq.trustedpremier.com and do something.....
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Sept 12, 2017 9:31:00 GMT -5
are you guys signing up for the "free credit monitoring". It looks like this could be quite costly -I hate to give up my rights to any potential class action lawsuit/settlement.
Also, someone said they put a freeze on something like Checksystems - I went back to look for the comment and did not see it. What would that do?
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Sept 12, 2017 9:48:29 GMT -5
IIRC, there is a service businesses etc. can belong to that reports on your check writing as to bounced checks. Didn't know it was still in business as so few people write checks for everything. Somewhere in my foggy brain is a thought that once you were listed on their bad check list it was difficult to get off even though there was a mistake made by putting someone on it.
My personal credit cards I'm not worried about....but do we have concerns about our brokerage accounts? I'd hate to see my account wiped out.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Sept 12, 2017 10:06:54 GMT -5
I find it very suspect that they waited 6 weeks to divulge this information. No, that's not shady at all I am wondering how long it took them to figure out they were breached. And then how long to figure out the extent of that breach. Then they game planned on what to do next. Six weeks seems like a long time to do all that.
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MJ2.0
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Post by MJ2.0 on Sept 12, 2017 10:20:21 GMT -5
I just tried to check and nothing happens when I put my information in. I tried in 3 different browsers - nothing.
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bcdfgh
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Post by bcdfgh on Sept 12, 2017 10:21:42 GMT -5
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Sept 12, 2017 13:34:12 GMT -5
So I just got an email from my IT group at work. They are strongly recommending we freeze our credit. Or at the very least they recommend we place a fraud alert on our files. They are saying not to use the site to see if you were compromised as it's not secure.
Additionally they recommend filing your taxes as early as possible and opting out of prescreened credit and insurance offers.
They do mention ChexSystems and say to notify them to keep an eye out for fraud committed in your name. They can place a security alert on your data so accounts can't be opened in your name.
Finally they say to assume your information has been exposed that even Equifax doesn't know. They are mailing notices to the people who had their credit card numbers on file and the people who had credit dispute documents but that's it. That only covers 400,000 people. They are saying from mid May through July they got 145 million people's information.
I think it's pretty sad my work IT department has better guidance than Equifax. But what do I expect out of people who exposed my personal information for a month and a half?
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Sept 12, 2017 14:23:45 GMT -5
wvgurl26 - how do you "Opt out of prescreened credit and insurance offers? Did they say?
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Sept 12, 2017 14:31:52 GMT -5
The website is www.optoutprescreen.com You can do the five years on there. To do it permanently you start on there and have to send in a form. You can also call for the five year opt out, 888-567-8688 Apologies for no links, I'm on my phone as work blocks the boards.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Sept 12, 2017 14:53:10 GMT -5
I have never heard of Chex Systems before someone else mentioned them in this thread. I'm going to go look them up now, but what do they do, and why should I worry about them? I thought there were just the big three.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Sept 12, 2017 15:06:55 GMT -5
I have never heard of Chex Systems before someone else mentioned them in this thread. I'm going to go look them up now, but what do they do, and why should I worry about them? I thought there were just the big three. The email I got said a security alert with them would make it more difficult for thieves to fraudulently obtain checking and savings accounts in your names. It lists a website, www.consumerdebit.com/consumerinfo/us/en/chexsystems/theftaffidavit/index.htmHopefully I got that typed correctly.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Sept 12, 2017 15:41:37 GMT -5
thanks. it seems my work internet is not playing well in the sandbox today. I can't get a lot of things to load properly, including the chexsystems site. will have to try again after the office clears out (maybe less traffic will help?)
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greeniis10
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Post by greeniis10 on Sept 12, 2017 15:47:51 GMT -5
okay, all three are now frozen. $5 charge each for Experian and TransUnion. no charge for Equifax. I was able to do all of it online, although it took a bit of searching to get to "freeze" rather than whatever pay monitoring service they offer. Did you have to create accounts (usernames / sign on) for each site in order to do this, please?
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Sept 12, 2017 15:55:52 GMT -5
okay, all three are now frozen. $5 charge each for Experian and TransUnion. no charge for Equifax. I was able to do all of it online, although it took a bit of searching to get to "freeze" rather than whatever pay monitoring service they offer. Did you have to create accounts (usernames / sign on) for each site in order to do this, please? I already had logins for each, I live in a state that allows me to pull a free copy of my credit report each year. you need a login for each to do that. so I guess I don't know, sorry.
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