Identity Theft Prevention One Year after Equifax

It has been one year since credit monitoring company Equifax announced that a “Cybersecurity Incident” had exposed names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some cases, driver’s license and credit card numbers, from nearly 148 million Americans, which means that it’s time for an identity theft prevention check in.

Although the Equifax incident impacted nearly half of the U.S. population, it may shock you to learn that not too much has happened in the aftermath. Sure, there were Congressional hearings; Equifax’s CEO Richard Smith resigned; and earlier this year, the company signed a consent order with regulators from eight states agreeing to improve oversight mechanisms, security audits, and threat monitoring.

But if you were hoping for serious consumer reform, forget it. That means that the onus is still on YOU! Here are 9 things you need to know about ID Theft Prevention:

  1. If you want access to credit, whether to buy a house or a car or to open up a credit card account, you will be handing over your personal information to a credit-reporting agency. While you have heard of “the big three” Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, there are hundreds out there.

  2. A “fraud alert” requires that a financial institution take steps to verify your identity before opening a new account, issuing an additional card, or increasing the credit limit on an existing account. Alerts can make it a bit harder for criminals to mess with your file. They last 90 days, after which you can renew it.

  3. A “credit-freeze” on your credit file generally stops all access to your credit report, including by YOU! That means that if you need to access credit, you have to unfreeze your records, which can take a few days. State law and/or a consumer reporting company’s policies dictate the availability of a freeze, which as of September 21, will be free in all 50 states, as required by a new federal law. You need to contact each company directly to freeze your file: Equifax (800) 685-1111 (Automated, Option 3) or (888) 298-0045 (Live); Experian (888) 397-3742 (Option 2 followed by Option 2); TransUnion ((888) 909-8872).

  4. If someone has used your information to make purchases or open accounts, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and print your Identity Theft Affidavit. Use that to file a police report and create your Identity Theft Report.

  5. Review your credit report every 12 months at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you find an error, report it immediately and stay on top of the process. Important note for parents: A new federal law going into effect this month allows you to check your kids’ credit reports. There’s a lot of information available from the FTC.

  6. Review credit card (and ALL) statements: Before you pay, make sure that there are no fraudulent charges. While you’re at it, enroll in a credit card notification program, where the bank alerts you to charges over a preset amount.

  7. Guard your information! Don’t provide a business with your Social Security number just because they ask for it; don’t provide personal information over the phone, through snail mail or via Internet unless you have initiated the contact or you know with whom you are dealing; and beware of over-sharing on social media, where criminals are finding valuable information.

  8. Protect your Password: Change logins and passwords monthly, use password generators and sign up for two-factor authentication.

  9. Shop carefully: Don’t send financial information on unsecured wireless networks and when making purchases, use a credit card, which has more fraud protections under federal law than debit cards or online payment services.