OT: Equifax systems breach

[Tin Cup Cowboy]

So, I was one of the lucky 143 million folks that had their info stolen apparently. Is a credit freeze the best option and do you only need to do that at one reporting bureau or all three? Any suggestions from the pack on how to handle this?

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

How do you find out if you had your information stolen?

 

[aTotal360]

how did you find out? I'm scared as hell to put my information into any of these "fraud checker" websites to see. I imagine a majority of them are phishing sites as well.

 

[tatedog]

Freeze your credit? Hell no--now is the perfect time to max those cards out like a drunken sailor and let Equifax worry about it.

 

[57stratdawg]

Equifax set up a website. But using it waived your right to sue them. Not that I would have sued them anyway, but still.

Although, and maybe 8dog can clarify, I'm not sure if the onetime use waives the right or if it's only applicable to some type of continuing montiroing service.

 

[KentuckyDawg13]

There is some questionable outcome on the Equifax check.

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/psa-equifaxs-hack-checker-is-a-hot-mess/

 

[patdog]

A couple of links with advice are below. Also, I've read that the Equifax site that supposedly tells you if your info has been compromised may be giving out random information. Haven't seen any verification of that though. I've checked my SS # twice there and been told that mine was not compromised both times.

FTC breach advice

Consumer Reports article 1

CR article 2

 

[patdog]

[FONT=&quot]I tested this myself with the last name "Hellomoto" and a random string of digits. Turns out that the person with the last name Hellomoto was not impacted. [/FONT]

I suspect what the Equifax tool is doing is checking the name & SS# against the list of individuals potentially impacted and returning a message that you don't appear to be affected if it's not on the list. It doesn't appear to be authenticating names/numbers not on the list (since there would be no reason to do so). If he had entered a random name/number and it said it did appear to be compromised, that would be more of a sign the site is producing random results.

 

[engie]

By the tool, I was impacted. Naturally. Not enrolling in anything though. Guess it's time to consider next steps.

 

[Tin Cup Cowboy]

They have an updated FAQ on the site that states if you enroll you are not waiving eligibility to a lawsuit.