Equifax Data Breach: Info for Consumers

Seriously consider placing a credit freeze on your credit reports with all 3 consumer reporting agencies: TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax;Regularly request your free credit reports, inspect them closely, and promptly dispute any unauthorized accounts;Inspect all financial account statements closely and promptly dispute any unauthorized charges;Consider placing alerts on your financial accounts so your financial institution alerts you when money above a pre-designated amount is withdrawn;Beware of potential phishing emails; don’t open any email messages or attachments from unknown senders and do not click on any unknown links. Fraudsters will frequently send coercive and misleading emails threatening account suspension or worse if sensitive information is not provided. Remember, businesses will never ask customers to verify account information via email. If in do6ubt, contact the business in question directly for verification and to report phishing emails; andBe on the lookout for spoofed email addresses. Spoofed email addresses are those that make minor changes in the domain name, frequently changing the letter O to the number zero, or the lowercase letter l to the number one. Scrutinize all incoming email addresses to ensure that the sender is truly legitimate.With questions on the data breach, you can contact Equifax at 866-447-7559, or the Illinois Attorney Generals Identity Theft Hotline at 1 (866) 999-5630.