Consumer Alert: Equifax Data Breach

Here at Nuvision Credit Union, we are dedicated to keeping our members informed about the latest financial security alerts. Just recently, the credit reporting agency Equifax acknowledged a data breach impacting up to 143 million US Consumers, jeopardizing Social Security Numbers, Birth Dates, Addresses and Driver’s Licenses.

Due to the large-scale nature of this breach, Nuvision wants our members to be aware of this Equifax issue and provide helpful information:

• Equifax has set up a dedicated site at www.equifaxsecurity2017.com for consumers to determine if they have been impacted by the breach. Equifax is also offering one free year of credit report monitoring.
• Check your credit reports annually from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion for free by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
• You may want to consider placing a credit freeze on your credit reports. A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. Keep in mind that a credit freeze won’t prevent charges from occurring on existing accounts.
• Monitor existing credit card and financial institution accounts closely for charges that are not recognized.
• You may also consider placing a fraud alert on their files. A fraud alert warns creditors that you may be an identity theft victim and that they should verify that anyone seeking credit in your name is really you.