Following a Breach

If any of your Social Security Number was compromised, you should consider ordering a credit report:

  • Place a security freeze on your credit report. A security freeze (also referred to as credit freeze) protects you by restricting access to your credit report. A financial institution or lender is blocked from ordering your credit report unless a pre-set PIN is provided to lift the freeze. You will have to request the security freeze from each credit bureau:
  • Some states charge a fee to freeze and/or unfreeze a credit report.
  • Place a fraud alert on your credit report if you are a victim of identity theft. When a financial institution or lender pulls your credit report containing a fraud alert, they are required to call the phone number contained in the alert, or use other reasonable means to verify it was actually you that applied for an account or loan. An initial fraud alert remains on your credit report for 90 days and must be renewed while an extended fraud alert remains on your credit report for seven years. You can contact one of the three major credit bureaus listed below to have a fraud alert placed on your credit report and that credit bureau is required notify the other two:
  • Military personnel on active duty can place an active duty alert on their credit report following the same process.

 

If any of your online login’s or password information was compromised:

  • You should log in to your account as soon as possible and change your login and password. If you use the same login’s and password for multiple sites, you should make changes to those accounts. Use strong passwords that are at least 11 characters in length that are casesensitive and include alpha-numeric characters and at least one symbol. Use a password checker to ensure you’re using a strong password.

If your debit or credit card was compromised:

  • Call your credit union and request your old card be canceled and request a new one
  • Review account activity and report any unauthorized transactions

If your credit union account information was compromised:

  • Review account activity and report any unauthorized transactions
  • Consider closing the account and requesting a new one, but be mindful of potential delays and interruptions to any automatic payments, or deductions

 

Protect yourself from scams:

  • Be mindful of emails claiming to be from the business, or financial institution which was breached. They may be phishing emails which often contain attachments or links to malicious websites infected with malware. Avoid opening attachments and clicking on links contained in emails received from unfamiliar sources.
  • Be wary of SMiSHing which is like phishing but in SMS text messages. Avoid clicking on links or calling the telephone number contained in text messages received from unfamiliar sources.
  • To avoid tax identify fraud make a point of filing your annual tax return promptly. Should you be notified that more than one return was filed in your name, you owe additional tax, or that records indicate that you earned more than the amount of wage you are reporting, complete an IRS Identity Theft Affidavit form 14039, and contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490.