Like millions of Americans, John decided he had to do something to protect himself in the wake of the massive data hack at credit bureau Equifax. So he clicked around the Internet trying to do the right thing, looking to sign up for a credit freeze or anything that might [Keep reading]
Consumers are still struggling with what to do in the wake of the huge Equifax hack, and the credit reporting agencies aren’t necessarily helping much. Trans Union’s website for credit freezes is still showing an “unavailable” message (You can, however sign up for…). Meanwhile, Equifax still hasn’t provided additional details [Keep reading]
Something strange has happened to the Trans Union webpage devoted to security freezes. It’s been changed to push visitors to sign up for a Trans Union ID theft service rather than place a security freeze. Consumers who follow a link on the Federal Trade Commision’s security freeze information page expecting [Keep reading]
What do to now? Freeze, I’d say. And breathe. Consumers continue to wrestle with their options in the wake of news that the Equifax credit reporting agency had been hacked, potentially exposing a majority of Americans to identity theft. It’s a natural impulse to “do something” after an incident like [Keep reading]
In this story Equifax has created much confusion with its announcement Who stole the data? How? Why? Consumers, Congress need to demand answers. What consumers should do now? (Probably not follow Equifax’ advice Equifax needs to start answering questions, fast. And this better be a turning point in consumer rights around [Keep reading]
Credit bureau Equifax announced late Thursday that computer criminals stole data on 143 million consumers earlier this year. The hackers took Social Security numbers and other data. Consumers should immediately check to see if they are impacted at a special website set up for the incident: www.equifaxsecurity2017.com Hackers entered through a [Keep reading]
If you don’t think identity theft can cost you, just ask Lucky Whitehead. The FORMER Dallas Cowboys player lost his job recently because someone else knew his Social Security number. Whitehead was fingered for a shoplifting crime recently in Prince George’s County, Virginia, not far from Washington D.C. Police said [Keep reading]
I’ve long said that identity theft is a just marketing program for banks and retailers. Corporations make it easy for criminals to steal so they can sell convenience to consumers, and if a few customers get hurt along the way, well, that’s a shame. That can always be fixed later. [Keep reading]
It’s much easier to steal $1 million from one person than $1 from a million people, so naturally that’s where identity thieves have taken their “industry.” Small-dollar credit card fraud is old, tricking corporations into wiring millions of dollars overseas is in. (This story first appeared on Credit.com. Read it [Keep reading]
U.S. consumers have finally been liberated from archaic technology that used to protect them and their credit cards from identity theft. Millions of Americans now have chip-enabled credit cards. And now the results of this sweeping change are in. Just as many consumers were hit by ID theft last year [Keep reading]
Bob Sullivan