How To Register For Free Id Theft Protection With Equifax

Identity theft protection following the Equifax data breach

SEP 09, 2017

Millions of Americans have been impacted past the recent Equifax data breach. Whether or not your personal information has been stolen, at that place are steps you can take to protect yourself and your credit.

What is identity theft, and what tin can yous do?

Sometimes criminals who steal data use it to engage in identity theft. It's of import to first understand what identity theft is. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, without your permission, and pretends to be yous to commit fraud. Identity thieves may attempt to apply your credit cards, open new accounts in your name, or effort to access your accounts. Information technology can be difficult to notice that y'all were a victim of identity theft until y'all review your reports or statements and see charges yous didn't make, or are contacted past a debt collector almost a debt that yous don't recognize. If y'all run into annihilation out of the ordinary on your financial statements or credit reports, no matter how small, you should take action immediately.

If you lot think you are a victim

The first pace to address concerns of fraud or identity theft is to contact the nationwide credit reporting companies and review your free credit reports from each of them.

Here are some signs of fraud or identity theft to wait for:

Accounts on your credit reports that you didn't open
Incorrect personal information on your credit reports
Credit inquiries from companies you've never contacted
Wrong amounts showing on your accounts in your credit reports
Money is missing from your bank account
Bills that you lot used to get are no longer being delivered to you

There are too free and low-cost options that provide additional protection from identity theft:

Security freeze
A security freeze on your credit report generally prevents new credit and accounts from existence opened in your name. You can place a freeze on your credit file at any time, justyou lot must contact each credit reporting company.	How it works When there is a freeze, creditors tin't access your reporting file and therefore won't offer new credit. This helps prevent identity thieves from opening fraudulent accounts in your proper name. Still, this also means you won't exist able to apply for credit as hands if y'all were planning to open a new account or utilize for a loan.

Security freeze

A security freeze on your credit report generally prevents new credit and accounts from existence opened in your name.

You can place a freeze on your credit file at any time, justyou lot must contact each credit reporting company.

How it works

When there is a freeze, creditors tin't access your reporting file and therefore won't offer new credit. This helps prevent identity thieves from opening fraudulent accounts in your proper name. Still, this also means you won't exist able to apply for credit as hands if y'all were planning to open a new account or utilize for a loan.

Fraud alerts
A fraud alert requires creditors to take steps to verify your identity before opening a new account, issuing an additional card, or increasing the credit limit on an existing account. A fraud warning doesn't prevent a lender from opening credit in your name in the same style a freeze does, but it does require that lenders accept additional steps to verify your identity kickoff. When you place a fraud alert on your credit study at i of the nationwide credit reporting companies, it must notify the others.	How information technology works There are two types of fraud alerts. Initial fraud alerts: Credit reporting companies will keep the alert on your file for 90 days. After 90 days the initial fraud alert will expire and be removed, and yous can place some other one if you want. Extended alerts: An extended alert is for identity theft victims and is good for 7 years. It requires that creditors contact you through the phone number or other contact method you lot designate to verify you lot're the person making the credit asking.

Fraud alerts

A fraud alert requires creditors to take steps to verify your identity before opening a new account, issuing an additional card, or increasing the credit limit on an existing account. A fraud warning doesn't prevent a lender from opening credit in your name in the same style a freeze does, but it does require that lenders accept additional steps to verify your identity kickoff.

When you place a fraud alert on your credit study at i of the nationwide credit reporting companies, it must notify the others.

How information technology works

There are two types of fraud alerts.

Initial fraud alerts: Credit reporting companies will keep the alert on your file for 90 days. After 90 days the initial fraud alert will expire and be removed, and yous can place some other one if you want.

Extended alerts: An extended alert is for identity theft victims and is good for 7 years. It requires that creditors contact you through the phone number or other contact method you lot designate to verify you lot're the person making the credit asking.

How do identity monitoring or credit monitoring services work?

After a information breach, many companies offer identity monitoring or credit monitoring services.

Identity monitors scan personally identifiable information in credit applications, public records, websites, and other places for any unusual action that could be signs of identity theft.

Some services may assistance you lot picket for problems. They ofttimes include a credit monitoring service that watches your credit reports and alerts you to changes to the accounts listed on your credit report.

If y'all're offered or considering an identity monitoring or credit monitoring service, make sure you check for trial periods, fees, cancellation requirements, and other restrictions so that you don't face unexpected fees, charges, or other limitations.

If you're having problem with a financial product or service, you can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or past calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).