A data breach victim needs the tools to help minimize the risk of being a victim of a data breach in the future.
Your personal data could have been compromised several ways.
- Your credit card information could have been exposed as a result of a retailer’s payment system being hacked.
- Your Social Security number and birth date could have been stolen from an employee’s computer.
- You were a victim of an email phishing scam.
- You placed your outgoing mail in the mailbox in front of your house (for pickup) and it was stolen.
Data breaches take many different forms. Make sure you arm yourself with the knowledge and tools necessary next to protect yourself from another data breach in the future.
The first thing is to identify what type of breach has occurred. This will lead you to your specific next steps.
Common types of breaches:
- Your credit card number is compromised. Call your creditor and request your card be cancelled and a new card be issued with a new account number. They’ll then take you through a dispute process where you will have the opportunity to dispute any fraudulent transactions that might appear on your bill. Be sure to monitor all of your account transactions online and call your creditor to dispute any new charges that may appear.
- Your debit card number was compromised. Debit cards have a higher risk if it’s been compromised. The higher risk is due to the fact that funds on this card are linked to your checking account and can quickly be withdrawn without your knowledge. Act quickly and call your financial institution to have them cancel your card and change your pin number. If your bank account number was also exposed, close the account and open a new one with a new number.
- Your Social Security number was stolen. Immediately contact one of the 3 credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion and have one of them place a fraud alert on your account. These credit reporting agencies are legally required to notify the other two agencies to do the same. A fraud alert will flag your account as a potential victim of fraud and that creditors should take extra steps to verify your identity before issuing any new credit. Be sure to monitor your credit reports on an ongoing basis. You could also place a freeze your account for more protection.
- Your email address and/or passwords were stolen. Be extra cautious when opening emails that request information or contain links. Never click on a link in an email unless you’re sure of the sender. Remember, just because the email looks like it’s from your bank, it may not actually be from them. It’s always safer to log in to your account and take action than it is to click links in an email.
If you are suspicious of an email, research the contact information for the sender and directly call them to verify the email. If your password has been compromised, immediately change your passwords and all accounts that have similar passwords. Carefully monitor your accounts for people using them without your knowledge.
Here are additional resources to consider if you have been a victim of a data breach:
Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
- Read the FTC’s guide, Taking Charge: What to Do if Your Identity Is Stolen, www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/idtheft/idt04.shtm
- Online information and complaint form: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft
Identity Theft Resource Center
- Web: http://www.idtheftcenter.org
- Fact Sheets, Solutions and Form Letters for victims: http://www.idtheftcenter.org/Help-for-Victims/document-catalogue.html
