The odds that criminals have your Social Security number have increased.
At least you’re not alone. Thanks to a recently reported nation-wide data breach, nearly every American is at risk. And it’s more than a Social Security number breach – information criminals now have includes full name, date of birth, address and phone number.
But there is a silver lining: You can make easy moves to help stay ahead of scammers.
“Protecting your personal information is critical,” said Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics for Regions Bank. “If you think your Social Security number has been compromised, it’s important to take these steps immediately.”
3 Steps to Protect Your Information
- Routinely check your credit report. If you don’t currently utilize a service, you can get one for free through annualcreditreport.com. (The service is provided by the three major credit report companies).
- Freeze your credit: This move can stop bad actors from opening new loan accounts. You can request alerts if someone tries to access your credit.
- Consider a monitoring service: These paid services will monitor your credit and personal information, alerting you of new accounts and if criminals have access on the dark web.
“Those are the moves to make now, to be proactive,” Taylor said. “Don’t put it off.”
But what if you’ve already fallen victim to fraud?
The Social Security Administration has great advice if you think your information is being used to open new accounts or if you are a victim of identity theft.
Social Security Number Breach: What to Do if You Think Your Information Has Been Compromised
- Visit gov (a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission) to make a report and create a recovery plan. You can also call them directly at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).
- File a police report and keep the report for your records.
- File an online claim with the Internet Crime Complaint Service (another free federal website) to help law enforcement catch the criminals responsible.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus and freeze your credit. They are Equifax (1-800-525-6285), Experian (1-800-397-3742) and TransUnion (1-800-680-7289).
Regions Identity Theft Kit
At Regions, we take customer security seriously.
We value the relationships we have built with you and your family and hope that you never become the victim of identity theft. But, because identity theft is such a fast-growing crime, we want you to be aware of the basic precautions you can take to protect yourself. We have created the Regions Identity Theft Kit to help you understand the crime and minimize the risk. Included are safety measures and tips on safeguarding your personal information, performing online financial transactions, browsing the Web securely, and protecting your identity online.
Related Fraud Prevention Articles From Doing More Today
Helpful Content from Regions.com/STOP FRAUD
The information presented is general in nature and should not be considered, legal, accounting or tax advice. Regions reminds its customers that they should be vigilant about fraud and security and that they are responsible for taking action to protect their computer systems. Fraud prevention requires a continuous review of your policies and practices, as the threat evolves daily. There is no guarantee that all fraudulent transactions will be prevented or that related financial losses will not occur. Visit regions.com/STOPFRAUD or speak with your Banker for further information on how you can help prevent fraud.