Equifax Hacked - 143M US Consumers could be affected

[highland145]

FWIW, it told me that my information was likely compromised.

Thanks for the new Tacoma TRD.

3rd, 4th, 5th, security freeze and forget about it.

 

[Tweak155]

You have to request the temporary thaw with your pin. So I have to retrieve my pin numbers out of my safe deposit box and fill out the online form. So it's a small hassle for me and I don't do it unless I really want the product or service. The past 10 years, I probably had to temporary thaw my credit like 3-4 times. One time it was for AT&T Fiber. The rest was when I wanted to open new credit cards for the signup bonus/rewards.

Credit freeze is definitely worth it for the piece of mind. It's the only real protection you have against data breaches like this one and identity thieves.

You still have other risks to consider that go beyond just getting credit loans, such as filing income tax in your name, getting your existing credit card data, etc... but it does reduce the possible headaches for sure.

 

[Herr Kutz]

Yay...



Thank You
Based on the information provided, we believe that your personal information may have been impacted by this incident.

Click the button below to continue your enrollment in TrustedID Premier.

 

[ViRGE]

Thanks for the new Tacoma TRD.

3rd, 4th, 5th, security freeze and forget about it.

You're welcome. And please try not to crash this one.

 

[highland145]

 

[Thebobo]

Yay...



Thank You
Based on the information provided, we believe that your personal information may have been impacted by this incident.

Click the button below to continue your enrollment in TrustedID Premier.

Yep me to those bastards. Do we trust them if they have all my info can't they just ask if you want protection rather than having to fill out another damn form. Better yet they should coordinate all your credit freezes if you wish to so all you have to do is check yes and they do it! Why should I spend my time for their fuckup. Lawyers do something!

 

[Fingolfin269]

What's the most reasonable response from an average consumer? I don't want to freeze my credit and have to deal with that annoyance forever but seems to be the only real protection.

One thing that sucks tremendously about this is that these agencies get to hold this mass amount of data on all of us. Yet we only get to check that data once per year for free. I've already checked the 3 reports this year so either have to pay for another report or wait.

 

[IEC]

You had. One. Job.

 

[Fingolfin269]

What is considered to be an "ID Theft Victim"? Looks like there are fees in my state to freeze/unfreeze credit unless you are an ID Theft Victim. Seems to me anyone who had their name, social, birthday, driver's license, etc. lifted from Equifax is now a victim.

Or do you have to wait to get directly screwed first?

 

[Svnla]

Them bastards hung up on me, three times - https://finance.yahoo.com/news/called-equifax-apos-d-affected-235248665.html

 

[Exterous]

What's the most reasonable response from an average consumer? I don't want to freeze my credit and have to deal with that annoyance forever but seems to be the only real protection.

One thing that sucks tremendously about this is that these agencies get to hold this mass amount of data on all of us. Yet we only get to check that data once per year for free. I've already checked the 3 reports this year so either have to pay for another report or wait.

You can place a Fraud Alert on your account instead of Freezing it. You're more likely to get a call for additional information instead of an auto decline from a freeze but many card\loan companies call if they try and pull a frozen account. No idea what fees (if any) are involved though

Check and see if one of your credit cards offer's free credit scores and activities. Many do although sometimes its just you're score. Others go so far as to show activity and provide alerts based on score chages. Credit Karma also does a pretty good job keeping up to date on TransUnion and Experian scores but I have found them to be inaccurate on new accounts and closing\opening dates from time to time.

 

[KeithP]

Couple things:

1. When they say execs sold days AFTER the breach was discovered - that was before it was released publicly... that's an important tidbit there - definitely going to be investigated for insider trading.

They are also claiming that the execs didn't know about the breach at the time and the sales were unrelated. That also seems like an important tidbit and easy enough to prove.

2. Their Equifax site is already offering people membership to their "TrustedID" service as a means of trying to help you - Rumors are swirling that if you sign up for this it will throw away your right to participate in a class action - BEWARE.

Rumors also claim the Clintons are involved in a pedophile ring based out of a pizza restaurant…BEWARE of Comet Ping Pong!

-KeithP

 

[ImpulsE69]

I call BS Keith. Anyone with half a brain knows the timing is too convenient to not be related. If they truly didn't know, then whoever did know needs to be fired for the lack of communication on a very serious issue.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

When i read an article on Ars Technica yesterday about how the RIAA wanted US$150,000 per infringement on a recent closed pseudo-YouTube audio ripping tool site that they claimed was visited by 60-million users each month I guestimated the RIAA was looking for a payday of US$900 Billion dollars MINIMALLY.

I would like to see a Class-Action suit brought against Equifax along the same lines. $150K/affected American. Whose in with me?

 

[zinfamous]

I'm sure they'll happily pay the $5-10M slap on the wrist that will come their way because of it.

one would hope prison time + 5 years of ankle monitoring, as well.

 

[NoTine42]

They are also claiming that the execs didn't know about the breach at the time and the sales were unrelated. That also seems like an important tidbit and easy enough to prove.

-KeithP

The whole reason execs "justify" their massive compensation packages is "greater responsibility". Guess what, this is within the realm of greater responsibility.

It would be great if Equifax's board (or any corporate board) had balls to go after their highly compensated "highly responsible" execs.

 

[Viper GTS]

How do banks feel about existing customers suddenly having frozen reports? I know they like to check up periodically, if they suddenly can't do this are they going to get pissy? Reporting still works normally?

Viper GTS

 

[BudAshes]

FUCK IM ON THE LIST. Time to ruin my credit so It just don't matter. I'm going to take out 50 credit cards and buy a McLaren. Who's in?

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I like how some sites try to minimalize the impact by comparing the numbers affected to the ENTIRE population when we should be comparing the population not including non-adults. I went here to find a guestimate of the non-adult USA population. https://naeyc.org/policy/advocacy/ChildrenandFamiliesFacts

This makes the affected percentage way larger.

 

[highland145]

How do banks feel about existing customers suddenly having frozen reports? I know they like to check up periodically, if they suddenly can't do this are they going to get pissy? Reporting still works normally?

Viper GTS

My banker just said that they would not be able to do a soft pull with a freeze but...... Mine have been frozen for several years and haven't had any issues with my current cards.

 

[ponyo]

You sold me.

Good. It's worth it for the piece of mind.

You can place a Fraud Alert on your account instead of Freezing it. You're more likely to get a call for additional information instead of an auto decline from a freeze but many card\loan companies call if they try and pull a frozen account. No idea what fees (if any) are involved though

Check and see if one of your credit cards offer's free credit scores and activities. Many do although sometimes its just you're score. Others go so far as to show activity and provide alerts based on score chages. Credit Karma also does a pretty good job keeping up to date on TransUnion and Experian scores but I have found them to be inaccurate on new accounts and closing\opening dates from time to time.

I never had auto decline because of the freeze. Banks can't process it so they just put a hold on the application. They either give you a number to call to talk to human to resolve or they call you telling you to remove the freeze. Now I just temporary thaw my credit ahead of time if I'm applying for new credit. It's like $3 per bureau to unfreeze. If I'm feeling really cheap, I'll call and ask which credit bureau they pull so I can only temporarily unfreeze that bureau. It only takes about 15 minutes for the thaw to become active.

How do banks feel about existing customers suddenly having frozen reports? I know they like to check up periodically, if they suddenly can't do this are they going to get pissy? Reporting still works normally?

Viper GTS

Freezing doesn't effect your existing credit you have with any banks or companies. So they don't care and you won't notice any difference. It only comes in play when you're applying for new credit. No one can pull your credit and apply for new one if you don't have the pin to thaw your credit. Not even you. Just think of it as 2-step verification for your credit and personal info. It's crazy people have and use 2-step verification for their email account and yet won't or don't have 2-step verification for their credit which is the most important asset. Credit freeze is 2-step verification.

 

[snoopy7548]

FYI, if you have AAA you can enroll in free ID theft monitoring (comes with the membership). This site brings you to the Northeast version. You can go to the AAA site of your region, hover over "Loans and Banking" near the top, then click on "ID Theft" to get to the sign up page.

EDIT: forgot the link
https://northeast.aaa.com/membership/benefits/id-theft-monitoring.html

 

[local]

And my shit has been stolen, again. Seems like it happens at least once a year now and I'm having a hard time caring anymore. Going to just freeze it I guess.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

And my shit has been stolen, again. Seems like it happens at least once a year now and I'm having a hard time caring anymore. Going to just freeze it I guess.

This has been my attitude. Had I taken advantage of them, I'd have like continuous 'credit monitoring' over the last ~5 years. I have a hard time caring anymore, if someone wants to hit me they're going to, and I'm gonna have to dispute it somewhere with some organization.

Maybe we'll get a nice CAL out of this, so we can all get $5 coupons or something.

 

[ponyo]

Credit monitoring services are a joke. It's not even worth the paper it's printed on and I wouldn't even take if offered for free. Look at that Lifelock CEO who had his ID stolen like 3 times and used to open new credit. The only thing that works is credit freeze.

 

[zinfamous]

Credit monitoring services are a joke. It's not even worth the paper it's printed on and I wouldn't even take if offered for free. Look at that Lifelock CEO who had his ID stolen like 3 times and used to open new credit. The only thing that works is credit freeze.

they are completely useless. I got an email from previous employer last year that HR data had been compromised, so they offered free 1 year service for MyID care, I think. You sign in, go to your "Account" and all you see is generic contact information. No portal that shows any kind of real credit or account info, no indication that anything is being monitored on any kind of scheduled basis. The only thing that this MyID care gives you is weekly spammy emails with junk articles about "protecting your ID" and of course when the "Free year" expires, you get inundated with dire warnings that you are unprotected and must activate a full account, over and over again.

Utter data mining garbage. It's amazing that these scam companies get contracts like this with major institutions.