Just Do It! Now! Today! Protect your identity and your credit

1. Freeze your credit!
2. Place a fraud alert with each of the 3 major credit reporting agencies.
3. Get credit monitoring; it's free if you've been affected by a credit breech.
4. CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS! And, please, don't reuse passwords.
Details at:
https://www.experian.com/
https://www.equifax.com/personal/
https://www.transunion.com/
Note the lock symbol and the "S" in https?

Capital One hack- did you ever apply for a Cap One card?

here we go again... another security hack of a financial company that pledged to protect your data... but didn't.
First, freeze your credit. This is the most important step to protecting your information. 
Call Equifax, Experian or TransUnion or go to their websites to do this.

Freezing your credit will prevent new lines of credit from being opened in your name, and it doesn’t affect your credit score. It is free and guaranteed by federal law. 
Write down the PIN the credit bureau gives you when you freeze your credit so you can lift the freeze. 

You also can place a fraud alert when you are contacting the credit bureaus, which will make it harder for someone to open an account or credit card in your name.

Change your passwords! 

Even if you weren't affected by the Capital One breech... Do these protective steps anyway!

Protect yourself from ID theft: Freeze your credit for free

Under a new federal law that just took effect, you can freeze (and un-freeze) your credit at no charge. Previously there was a charge allowed in many states.
"Congress passed the law in response to last year’s massive Equifax hack, which exposed the private information of more than 145 million Americans."
Why freeze your credit? It's one of the best ways to protect yourself from identity theft.
you need to contact each of the three major credit agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
The Federal Trade Commission has links to those pages on its identity theft information website.

"Additionally, the law allows for a free credit freeze for children under age 16, something that was not previously allowed in all states. This helps prevent criminals from creating fraudulent accounts under a child’s identity, a problem that often goes undetected until they are adults and seek credit of their own."
"A credit freeze is considered one of the most effective ways to protect criminals from opening credit in your name. It is different than credit monitoring, which tracks a person’s credit and alerts them of changes in activity."
Read the full article by SARAH SKIDMORE SELL, Associated Press personal finance writer, at: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2018/09/22/apc-you-can-now-request-a-credit-freeze-free-of-charge/#.W6hQS_ZReCg

The Truth About Credit Freezes

"For nearly three months this year, hackers had access to files at Equifax, a financial services company and one of the big three credit reporting bureaus. All told, more than 145 million people may have had their Social Security numbers, birth dates and addresses stolen. Some driver's license and credit card numbers may also have been taken."

"While not the biggest security breach in history, it could be the one that causes the most damage. With Social Security numbers, addresses and birthdates, thieves can do everything from open new bank accounts to file fraudulent tax returns."

"In the face of those scary outcomes, a credit freeze might seem like the answer. While a freeze can be beneficial, make sure you understand what it does and how it protects you"
Get the details from Maralene LaPonse writing for US News and World Report at: https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/banking-and-credit/articles/2017-10-19/6-myths-about-credit-freezes

Equifax Breech: Should you freeze your credit?

As reported widely, a major breach at the credit bureau Equifax, one of the “big three” companies (along with TransUnion and Experian) that compile consumer credit histories and furnish reports to lenders considering credit applications, has exposed the sensitive personal information of 143 million people. This information includes Social Security numbers, birthdates and addresses. The breach has led consumers, like Jackie* from New Jersey, to call Consumer Action’s hotline asking, “How do I place a freeze on my credit file?”

A credit, or security, freeze is a preventive tool to help you to stop impostors from using your personal information to establish credit, a crime known as “identity theft.” Freezing your credit file means that new credit cannot be established in your name until you lift the freeze. Unless you are a documented victim of identity theft, you may have to pay a fee to place the freeze and another fee to lift the freeze temporarily when you need to apply for credit, though a handful of states mandate that freezes be free for all residents.
Equifax has offered free credit file freezes until Nov. 21, 2017. If you want a free credit file freeze from Equifax, you can call 800-349-9960 or visit the company’s website.
To be effective, one should place a freeze with all three credit bureaus. However, TransUnion and Experian, not affected by breaches, are not offering free freezes. To learn the cost of freezes in your state, see this page on the TransUnion site.
So how do you place a freeze on your credit file? Contact the bureaus. Each one will have a different procedure for activating and lifting a freeze. Remember, the freeze remains on your credit file until you remove it; you should contact the credit bureaus where you placed freezes before applying for new credit. Here’s the contact information for the three major credit reporting bureaus.
Equifax
Call 800 349-9960 or visit the company’s website. For more information, see the Federal Trade Commission’s “Free credit freezes from Equifax.”
Experian
Call 888 397-3742 and follow the prompts for placing a security freeze, or visit the company’s website.
TransUnion
Call 888 909-8872 and follow the prompts for placing a security freeze by mail, or visit the company’s website, where you can establish an account and freeze your credit file. We’ve noticed that TransUnion is pushing its TrueIdentity “credit monitoring”—a paid product—on some of its freeze information pages, but you can request a freeze, for a fee, without enrolling in the paid product.
Pros and cons
Consider both the benefits and drawbacks of locking your credit file before you decide whether or not to place a security freeze.
Pros:

• A security freeze can stop imposters from opening new accounts in your name.
• A freeze does not stop you from getting new credit or other services.
• The freeze does not expire—it remains in effect until you remove it.
• Freezing provides much greater protection and typically costs much less than a monthly credit monitoring service.
• A freeze does not affect your credit score.
• In most cases, placing a security freeze—and lifting it—is free for victims of ID theft. However, just being a victim of the Equifax breach does not make you an ID theft victim.

Cons:

• A security freeze only is effective if you activate it at all three credit reporting agencies.
• Depending where you live, non-victims may pay up to $30 to place the freeze with all three agencies.
• In most states, non-victims must pay a fee whenever they ask to temporarily lift the freeze. However, it is free in many states to permanently remove the freeze.
• A security freeze can take up to three business days to be lifted, delaying your credit application or other transaction and preventing you from accessing “instant credit” offers at stores and retailers. (A number of states have passed laws, however, that require the freeze be lifted within 15 minutes of the request.)
• A freeze does not prevent fraud involving your existing bank or credit accounts.

For more information, visit Consumer Action’s guide to protecting your personal data in the wake of the Equifax breach.
*Not this consumer’s real name

Thanks to Consumer Action for this item quoted directly in full.

Concerned about Credit Security?

Hardly a week goes by without a major security breech somewhere in the U.S. Although consumer slip ups in security practices may be the cause of ID theft or credit misuse, often it is a theft of data beyond the control of the consumer. Utah suffered a major breech of health data in March 2012. Victims are often offered a year of free credit monitoring service.

However, it much better to prevent the breech rather than be notified and have to deal with the messy and time consuming clean up process. A Security Freeze is a better approach. It is also advised for persons who don't anticipate applying for credit in the near future who want to protect themselves. Read more at: http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns//learn_more/003484indiv.html

Identity Theft Resource Center- Utah info

With continuing concern about the Utah data breech (which reaches far beyond Medicaid patients) we should all take steps to protect our credit reports and prevent ID theft. Check out this website and put a FREEZE on your credit if you are one of the victims of the data breech or just want to add a firewall of protection to your credit reports: http://www.idtheftcenter.org/artman2/publish/states/Utah.shtml

Protect against ID theft; “FREEZE” your credit files

To protect against ID theft “FREEZE”your credit bureau file.

The massive Medicaid data breech is affecting many people who never applied for Medicaid and had no idea their data might be included in the data theft.

“A security freeze means that your credit reporting file cannot be shared with potential creditors. A security freeze can help prevent new account identity theft. Most businesses will not open credit accounts without first checking a consumer’s credit history. If your credit files are frozen, even someone who has your name and Social Security number probably would not be able to obtain credit in your name.”

How do I place a security freeze?

To place a freeze, you must write to each of the three consumer reporting agencies. CRAs charge a “reasonable” fee, unless the fee is waived because you are a victim of identity theft. To prove you are a victim and avoid fees, you must send a copy of a police report to each consumer reporting agency to request a security freeze.  

A freeze provides more protection than a “security alert” on your credit report.

For details and a sample freeze letter:

http://www.consumersunion.org/pdf/security/securityUT.pdf

Another useful resource:  ID theft resource center (Utah link)

http://www.idtheftcenter.org/artman2/publish/states/Utah.shtml