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Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,305
Registered: ‎06-08-2016

Re: More on Credit Breach Protection

There's no way to prevent theft.

My dad used to say "locks are for honest people"

Meaning a crook will go to any lengths, legal or not to get what they want.

 

You can protect the best you can and hope for the best.  There is no perfect protection.

 

I despise the credit score krap and the whole credit report stuff all online and who-knows-where-else.    There was better security in the "old days" when everything was on paper.  Banks, companies, people had respect for personal papers, now it's all loosey goosey.

 

I have average credit, I'm not overly worried, plenty of others out there with big credit lines and much better credit to pounce on.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,527
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: More on Credit Breach Protection


@Nightowlz wrote:

@esmerelda wrote:

@NightowlzThat's exactly the response that I got too.  So I'll go back on that date and do whatever.

 

In the meantime I did do the fraud alert thing.


@esmerelda My enrollment date was yesterday & I forgot about it. 

DH did not go to work yesterday. I was also trying to reach my sister in Fl. to see if they were ok. I still have not heard from her so she must not have power. She has not text me back either.


@Nightowlz I think it was an "on or after" thing re: the date.  I don't think that was your only chance to enroll.

 

I hope you'll hear from your sister soon that they're okay.

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Keepin' it real.
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,527
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: More on Credit Breach Protection

@SHOPR  Thanks.  I don't think I saw either of those messages. ???

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Keepin' it real.
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,527
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: More on Credit Breach Protection


@KathyPet wrote:

PUtting a freeze on your credit with the credit bureaus only prevents any NEW applications for credit in your name from being processed.  It does NOT prevent the fraudulent use of any credit cards that you currently have that the hackers obtained account numbers for when your data was stolen.  THe only way to prevent a currently held credit card from being used fraudulently is to close that credit card account number and get a new card issued.


@KathyPet I am waaay more concerned about new credit that I would be unaware of than current accounts that I can check daily.

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Keepin' it real.
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,660
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: More on Credit Breach Protection

I called two card issuers yesterday to get new account numbers.  WHen those new cards arrive I will call a couple more. I do not want to be without any credit cards that are valid so will do this in increments.  YOu do not have to wait  until you have called your existing card issuers to freeze your credit.  I already did that step before I called my first two credit card companies.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,532
Registered: ‎04-17-2013

Re: More on Credit Breach Protection


@KathyPet wrote:

I called two card issuers yesterday to get new account numbers.  WHen those new cards arrive I will call a couple more. I do not want to be without any credit cards that are valid so will do this in increments.  YOu do not have to wait  until you have called your existing card issuers to freeze your credit.  I already did that step before I called my first two credit card companies.


 

@KathyPet, I didn't know for sure if freezing credit would somehow cause a hiccup of some kind when I went to get new cards issued.  In all searching and reading I have done, I've not found this in particular addressed, so a big thank you.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,660
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: More on Credit Breach Protection

You are not applying for "new" credit.  YOu simply want your card issuer to cancel your current card, transfer your balance if you have one and send you a new card with a new number.  NO credit bureau interaction needed to accomplish that.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,433
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: More on Credit Breach Protection


@Nightowlz wrote:

@Venezia When someone used my Discover card they would not tell me the persons name. They told me I had to get a court order if I wanted that info. They asked why I wanted it. LOL!!! I said so I can knock them over the head with a baseball bat & the guy said well I don't know about that???

I was a little shocked when I received an almost $2000 statement. DH asked how much should it be & I said about $50. 

Now when it happens I pretty much know it rather quickly since I check my accounts online several times per week.

What makes me mad is these people get away with it so they keep doing it.

I asked Discover how it all worked. I was told since I had my card & the person using it to shop online did not have the card that the retailers would be the ones out the money not Discover. He said each retailer would have to go after the thief to get their money back. He said they just don't do that for these amounts because it's not worth it. They knew who was using my card because the moron ordered business cards & paid an electric bill with it.

The thief also used my card to eat at restaurants so someone working in these places was in on it with this guy. I don't think a restaurant is going to process a charge for dinner to a credit card if you don't have the credit card with you.


@Nightowlz OMG OMG! WHAT that is terrible

 

Now I am confused about all this...my husband went online I guess to that link where you check to see if you are listed and he said yes he was...so he signed up for this 1yr monitoring thing.  Then he told me I should check to see if I am listed too and do the same.  I haven't yet BUT this thread is saying that is all a ruse too? and we probably aren't affected or could be but that link to check is garbage??

 

Do I have this correctly??  

 

Where or how do we check to see if these people have our information??

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,120
Registered: ‎04-17-2015

Re: More on Credit Breach Protection

[ Edited ]

@tsavorite, the Equifax link is the only place you can supposedly find out if you have been affected. When I logged in last week, I was given the message you are "probably affected."

 

I don't care if they are lying or not, or even if I haven't been affected. I decided it's time for me to take action and protect myself.... and so I have taken every measure possible to do so.

 

All the news reports I am now listening to are saying that every adult consumer should assume they have been affected and take immediate action.

 

Each person has to make that decision for themselves.

 

I highly recommend you read the articles I provided links for in the OP. It has a lot of important and useful information.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,120
Registered: ‎04-17-2015

Re: More on Credit Breach Protection

[ Edited ]

 

d/p