What to do if your personal info is compromised

"I've been notified that my personal info has been leaked. What do I do next?"

Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. It can damage your credit status and cost you time and money.

• You may not know that you experienced identity theft immediately. Beware of the following signs of identity theft:
  • Bills for items you did not buy
  • Debt collection calls for accounts you did not open
  • Information on your credit report for accounts you did not open
  • Denials for loan applications
  • Mail stops coming to - or is missing from - your mailbox
• How can I protect myself if I was potentially impacted?  (All responses from identitytheft.gov)
  • A helpful guide can be found at www.identitytheft.gov by answering the questionnaire they provide.
• Most companies that have experienced a data breach will offer impacted individuals credit monitoring at no cost. If you receive this offer, we strongly recommend you accept it.
• Get your free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com, and check for any accounts or charges you don't recognize. Due to the pandemic, you can check your reports every week for free through December 2023.
• Consider placing a free credit freeze. A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name.
  • If you place a freeze, you'll have to lift the freeze before you apply for a new credit card or cell phone - or any service that requires a credit check.
  • If you decide not to place a credit freeze, at least consider placing a fraud alert.
• Don't believe anyone who calls and says you'll be arrested unless you pay for taxes or debt - even if they have part of or your complete Social Security number, or they say they're from the IRS.
• Continue to check your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com. Due to the pandemic, you can check your reports every week for free through December 2023.