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sweetroxie

(776 posts)
Mon Jul 9, 2018, 09:46 AM Jul 2018

Revisiting the Equifax Security Breach

Yesterday tried to create an account on the Social Security website. As I was entering personal information I saw that they were asking me what my monthly payment is for a car loan. Well, I don't and never have had a car loan. My current car was a gift and it's now 17 years old. So no loans. Evah.

Then when I answered it "wrong" (from SSA's point of view) they booted me off the site for 24 hours while I got my reality to fit with theirs.

I called SSA this morning and the agent told me that SSA uses Equifax for their data. Back in March I had found out that I was part of the original breach. But I didn't do anything about it because the options confused me.

So now I'm a victim and I think someone has been draining my bank account and taking out loans in my name.

Anyone have any ideas about what I can/should do this late in the game.?

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Revisiting the Equifax Security Breach (Original Post) sweetroxie Jul 2018 OP
Check your bank account before you panic. hedda_foil Jul 2018 #1
Get on top of your accounts... Phentex Jul 2018 #2

hedda_foil

(16,373 posts)
1. Check your bank account before you panic.
Mon Jul 9, 2018, 09:59 AM
Jul 2018

If hundreds of dollars haven't been disappearing from your account each month then the mistake is Equifax's. Call them or check your credit record online for free using this link: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action

If it shows a car loan that mistakenly got placed in your record you can dispute it and they'll respond quickly. I had some small errors in mine and they were fixed within a week.

Phentex

(16,334 posts)
2. Get on top of your accounts...
Tue Jul 10, 2018, 10:24 AM
Jul 2018

You should be checking your bank account information at least one a week. Then you would know if someone were draining it. I guess I don't have enough money in mine NOT to realize if someone was taking it.

And like the person above says, the credit systems can and do make mistakes. And the security questions are a joke if you are a certain age. You'd have to have an extraordinary memory of certain info (for example a mortgage lender if yours was bought and sold many times from 25 years ago). Sometimes I think they put all wrong answers just to see if it's really you.

If you do find you've been a victim, start by putting a freeze on everything. The credit company websites have information on how to do this and move forward.

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