On July 29, 2017, Equifax discovered that criminals exploited a U.S. website application vulnerability to gain access to certain files. Upon discovery, they acted immediately to stop the intrusion. The company promptly engaged a leading, independent cybersecurity firm which has been conducting a comprehensive forensic review to determine the scope of the intrusion, including the specific data impacted. Equifax also reported the criminal access to law enforcement and continues to work with authorities. Based on the company’s investigation, the unauthorized access occurred from mid-May through July 2017.
What Information Was Involved
Most of the consumer information accessed includes names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and in some instances, driver’s license numbers. In addition, credit card numbers for approximately 209,000 consumers and certain dispute documents, which included personal identifying information, for approximately 182,000 consumers were accessed. In addition to this site, Equifax will send direct mail notices to consumers whose credit card numbers or dispute documents with personal identifying information were impacted. They have found no evidence of unauthorized access to Equifax’s core consumer or commercial credit reporting databases.
What They Are Doing
Upon learning of this incident, Equifax took steps to stop the intrusion, and engaged an independent cybersecurity firm to forensically investigate and determine the scope. Equifax also engaged the cybersecurity firm to conduct an assessment and provide recommendations on steps that can be taken to help prevent this type of incident from happening again.
Equifax is focused on consumer protection and has established a dedicated website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com to help consumers. They have provided a tool on the site for you to determine if your information was potentially impacted by this incident. To find out if you are potentially impacted, please go to www.equifaxsecurity2017.com, and click on “Potential Impact,” and enter your last name and last 6 digits of your Social Security number.
They are also offering free identity theft protection and credit file monitoring to all U.S. consumers, even if you are not impacted by this incident. This offering, called TrustedID Premier, includes 3-Bureau credit monitoring of your Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports; copies of your Equifax credit report; the ability to lock and unlock your Equifax credit report; identity theft insurance; and Internet scanning for your Social Security number – all complimentary to U.S. consumers for one year. To find out more information on this complimentary offer and to sign up, please click on the tab “Enroll” on the site listed above. You must complete the enrollment process by November 21, 2017.
What You Can Do
In addition to enrolling in identity theft protection and credit file monitoring, please see the “Identity Theft Prevention Tips” below, and the “State Information” tab of this site. This information provides additional steps you can take, including how to obtain a free copy of your credit report and place a fraud alert and/or credit freeze on your credit report. In addition, please monitor your account statements and report any unauthorized charges to your credit card companies and financial institutions.
For More Information
If you have additional questions, please call the Equifax dedicated call center at 866-447-7559 available from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Eastern time, seven days a week.
Identity Theft Prevention Tips
We recommend that you remain vigilant for incidents of fraud and identity theft by reviewing account statements and monitoring your credit reports. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report from each company listed below once every 12 months by requesting your report by calling toll-free 1-877-322-8228, or mailing an Annual Credit Report Request Form to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA, 30348-5281. You may also purchase a copy of your credit report by contacting any of the credit reporting agencies below:
Equifax
PO Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
888-766-0008
Experian
PO Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
888-397-3742
TransUnion
PO Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016
800-680-7289
If you believe you are the victim of identity theft, you should contact the proper law enforcement authorities, including local law enforcement, and you should consider contacting your state attorney general and/or the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”). You also may contact the FTC to obtain additional information about avoiding identity theft.
Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)
You may obtain information from the FTC and the credit reporting agencies listed above about placing a fraud alert and/or credit freeze on your credit report.