This is an archived news report. The latest update on the Equifax breach can be found here.
COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Financial and cyber experts warn the Equifax hack has the potential to haunt Americans for decades.
JND Administration, the organization handling a class-action lawsuit settlement for the Equifax breach, has set up a website where consumers can check if their data was exposed in the hack. Click here to check. You will need to provide your last name and the last six digits of your Social Security number.
Nearly half of the entire U.S. population had their information exposed: names, social security numbers, date of birth, addresses, driver’s license numbers and 200,000 credit cards. Amid a public backlash, Equifax says, customers who sign up for one year of free credit monitoring and theft protection, will not surrender their rights to sue.
Experts say all adults should sign up for fraud alerts from Equifax and the other two credit agencies: Experian and Transunion. Better Call Jackson has received a lot several phone calls from local consumers who want to know more about the breach.
Here’s what you need to do if your information was stolen,
- Consider paying for an identity theft monitoring service.
- Set up fraud alerts on your bank and credit cards.
- Consider freezing your credit report so only companies you already do business with have access. Criminals will be locked out, but you’ll need to unfreeze it when you need a legitimate credit check.