Are you the victim of a data breach? Here are 4 steps to protect your identity.

If you have been impacted by a data breach, there may be some steps you can take to protect your identity.

Sandrina Rodrigues

Mar 3, 2022, 5:19 PM

Updated 1,022 days ago

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Are you the victim of a data breach? Here are 4 steps to protect your identity.
If you have been impacted by a data breach, there may be some steps you can take to protect your identity.
Here are some steps suggested by New York Attorney General Letitia James to avoid theft:

1. Monitor your credit

Credit monitoring services track your credit report and alert you whenever a change is made, such as a new account or a large purchase. Most services will notify you within 24 hours of any change to your credit report.

2. Credit freeze

Consider placing a free credit freeze on your credit report. Identity thieves will not be able to open a new credit account in your name while the freeze is in place. You can place a credit freeze by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus:
Equifax - Website | 888-766-0008
Experian - Website | 888-397-3742
TransUnion - Website | 800-680-7289

3. Fraud alert

Place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert tells lenders and creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before issuing credit. You can place a fraud alert by contacting any one of the three major credit bureaus.

4. Additional Resources.

If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, go to identitytheft.gov for assistance on how to report it and recover from it.