From May through July, Equifax experienced a data breach that compromised the personal information of 140+ million people. Hackers accessed names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. According to Equifax, the issue has been contained.
Why Should I Care?
Equifax is one of three major credit bureaus, responsible for your credit score. Your credit score is based on information in your credit reports that are produced by these bureaus, so it’s important that your information is accurate. Which means that the information that may have been compromised is fairly accurate.
What Is A Credit Freeze?
A credit freeze prevents creditors from accessing your credit report. This will also …show more content…
https://www.innovis.com/assets/InnovisSecurityFreezeRequest-f77aade600faab215c64ce801278a260.pdf
• Then mail to Innovis Consumer Assistance, P.O. Box 26, Pittsburg, PA 15230
• By Web - https://www.innovis.com/securityFreeze/index
How Do I Lift A Credit Freeze?
According to the Federal Trade Commission, it takes about three business days to lift the freeze. You will want to plan accordingly in the event you need your credit run – (new credit card, purchasing a home, refinancing a current mortgage, lease a car, etc.) Typically, each credit bureau will ask for your name, physical address, social security number, date of birth, 2 forms of identification such as a bill and a paystub, and your PIN # that was given to you when you initiated the freeze.
10 Things You Can Do Today To Help Prevent Identify Theft
1. Check Your Credit Reports: You are entitled to one free credit report per year from Equifax, TransUnion, Experian, and Innovis. Access your free credit reports here. Check to see if any lines of credit or bank accounts were opened in your name without your knowledge. You can dispute fraudulent actions and put a fraud alert on your