See our FAQ to learn more about the breach and how to protect yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
I've been hearing about the Equifax breach in the news. What happened?
Equifax, one of the three major credit bureaus, experienced a massive data breach. The hackers accessed people's names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver's license numbers. They also stole credit card numbers for about 209,000 people and dispute documents with personal identifying information for about 182,000 people.
Was my information stolen?
If you have a credit report, there's a good chance it was. Go to a special website set up by Equifax to find out: https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/ Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Potential Impact," enter some personal information and the site will tell you if you've been affected. Be sure you're ona secure network (not public wi-fi) when you submit sensitive data over the internet.
How can I protect myself?
Should I place a credit freeze on my files?
Before deciding to place a credit freeze on your accounts, consider your personal situation. If you might be applying for credit soon or think you might need quick credit in an emergency, it might be better to simply place a fraud alert on your files with the three major credit bureaus. A fraud alert puts a red flag on your credit report which required businesses to take additional steps, such as contacting you by phone before opening a new account.
How do I contact the three major credit bureaus to place a freeze on my files?
Equifax: Call 800-349-9960 or visit its website
Experian: Call 888-397-3742 or visit its website
TransUnion: Call 888-909-8872 or visit its website
Where can I get more information about the Equifax breach?
You can learn more directly from Equifax at https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/. You can also learn more by visiting the Federal Trade Commission's web page on the breach at https://www.consumer.ftc.gove/blog/2017/09/equifax-data-breach-what-do. To learn more about how to protect yourself after a breach, visit https://www.identitytheft.gov/Info-Lost-or-Stolen.