• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Equifax Hack 143 million victims

clifffaith

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2016
Messages
5,480
Reaction score
6,637
Points
498
Location
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Resorts Owned
Worldmark
Last night on the NBC evening news they gave out the equifaxsecurity2017.com website to check to see if our data had been part of the breach. Really only because the iPad was sitting right there, did I bother to check. So easy to become numb to this sort of thing. Neither of us came back as compromised so we didn't pursue it further. But thanks for the mention of AAA credit monitoring, since I am the main member I'll sign myself up for that.
 

bogey21

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
9,455
Reaction score
4,662
Points
649
Location
Fort Worth, Texas
In the FWIW category I just removed my Experian Credit Freeze for 24 hours to facilitate a credit transaction. All I had to do was log on the Experian website and plug in my request; a few pieces of identifying information; and my special 10 digit Freeze PIN. I got an immediate confirmation and the entity needing to check my Credit Report got immediate access to it. Oh yes, it cost me $10.83!

Smooth as silk!

George
 

Talya

newbie
Joined
Sep 6, 2017
Messages
126
Reaction score
48
Points
38
Location
California
Experian is the first agency to send me a letter - received today - confirming the freeze with all relevant information, telling me exactly what I did (permanent freeze) and how to go about functioning with the freeze. Nice.

As I've been fussing around with all this, a memory returned to me of someone who counseled me to initiate a freeze as a matter-of-course once I started getting credit. He argued that it was the way one needed to conduct one's credit. He knew of no other way. For him it was business-as-usual, and he saw anyone not initiating a freeze as acting contrary to good, fiscal practice. Long time ago. Anyone else come across this pov? Anyway, I've never had any trouble but I can see if I ever did, I'd have rued the day I didn't take that man's wise counsel. Now it's done.
 
Last edited:

bogey21

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
9,455
Reaction score
4,662
Points
649
Location
Fort Worth, Texas
He saw anyone not initiating a freeze as acting contrary to good, fiscal practice. Long time ago. Anyone else come across this pov? Anyway, I've never had any trouble but I can see if I ever did, I'd have rued the day I didn't take that man's wise counsel.

I came to this conclusion myself some 5 -6 years ago and established Credit Freezes at all the Credit Reporting Agencies. Let me just say that although it is a minor irritant when requesting new credit, I have never regretted my decision.

George
 

amycurl

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2011
Messages
3,072
Reaction score
3,119
Points
449
Location
Greensboro, NC
I tried another 3 times yesterday. I have been trying between the phone and online. Got rejected online (again). Finally the last phone call it went through. The issue is that Experian charges got posted (out from pending). $10 charge posted for each day. I have to find a number to call. Argh!

Note: I believe you have to do it with each of the credit reporting agency.
Luckily, it's free in NC. But there is no way I'm sending in documents. That seems *really* unsafe. We found a phone number on the FTC's website.
 

x3 skier

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
5,266
Reaction score
2,295
Points
649
Location
Ohio and Colorado
Resorts Owned
Steamboat Grand, The West,
Raintree and, formerly, The Allen House
Luckily, it's free in NC. But there is no way I'm sending in documents. That seems *really* unsafe. We found a phone number on the FTC's website.

I'm curious. Why do you think a phone call is safer than on line or actual paper? The information winds up in the same place and subject to hacking.

Cheers
 

WinniWoman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
10,762
Reaction score
7,057
Points
749
Location
The Weirs, New Hampshire
Resorts Owned
Innseason Pollard Brook
Still no confirmation email for protection enrollment for either me or my husband.
 

amycurl

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2011
Messages
3,072
Reaction score
3,119
Points
449
Location
Greensboro, NC
More worried about the paper pieces being intercepted in the process. But maybe I've had more things "lost in the mail" than others.
 

FLDVCFamily

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2007
Messages
1,275
Reaction score
87
Points
408
We haven't done anything so far. My sister is really freaked out about this as her SSN came up as likely stolen...she wants to do a credit freeze. I had to do one of these in the past due to a bank actually merging my account with someone else's account (same first name and unusual last name). It was a pain to work around and I'd rather not do it again if I can help it. Are 143M people really going to have to freeze their credit over this?
 

dis-happy

newbie
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
161
Location
The Carolinas
My DH sent me this text message last night. Found it fascinating.


The Chief Security Officer at Equifax just retired. What did she study in college? Her degrees were in music composition . (Glad it wasn't me, though - especially if she has to testify to Congress.)
 

linsj

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2006
Messages
2,209
Reaction score
441
Points
443
Location
Chicagoland
Resorts Owned
HGVC
I froze my account on Monday. Got the email to finish the process this morning, but it didn't go through due to overload on the website.
 

winger

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
3,810
Reaction score
354
Points
468
Location
Northern California
My DH sent me this text message last night. Found it fascinating.

The Chief Security Officer at Equifax just retired. What did she study in college? Her degrees were in music composition . (Glad it wasn't me, though - especially if she has to testify to Congress.)
One thing to consider is news outlets sometimes tend to sensationalize things, even if that means purposely leaving out relevant facts and/or failure of reporter to dig deeper for additional, relevant information. If I were the journalist, I would have dug deeper and figured out what additional training/background she has to qualify her for the Equiafax Officer job and reported this in the article(s). I am trying not to stereotype, but I have read several articles over the years of studies allude to the point that certain music-oriented people actually are really very bright/smart - that music opens up the parts of the mind that could help one succeed in many parts of life. Anyone can Google some of these studies.

On another note - I successfully applied for the free one-year Equifax credit protection/monitoring service last Friday (9/13) and received the generic note that I should be hearing back from them soon (or something to that effect); but, I have yet received anything else by email. Today is 9/19, should I have heard something by now?
 
Last edited:

Ironwood

TUG Member
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
1,079
Reaction score
207
Points
274
Location
North of the 49th!
There were upwards of 100,000 Canadian accounts hacked in the massive data breach as well. They will be notifying those that 'might' be affected by mail.....by mail! Equifax knew of the breach at least 70 days before it was disclosed. The CEO and a handful of other exec's sold stock during those 70 days. Clearly companies that hold such sensitive personal information need to be held to a very high standard and their feet held to the fire when data breeches happen.
 

geekette

Guest
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
10,777
Reaction score
5,531
Points
848
My DH sent me this text message last night. Found it fascinating.


The Chief Security Officer at Equifax just retired. What did she study in college? Her degrees were in music composition . (Glad it wasn't me, though - especially if she has to testify to Congress.)
this doesn't seem so odd to me. the job I have today didn't exist when I was in school, and back then I didn't know what I wanted to do.

It would be more interesting to know what she has done since college. What's Your Major just isn't something most adults get asked because it doesn't matter. Perhaps after life as a starving artist she transformed to a different career. Not so odd.
 

VacationForever

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2010
Messages
16,199
Reaction score
10,612
Points
1,048
Location
Somewhere Out There
There were upwards of 100,000 Canadian accounts hacked in the massive data breach as well. They will be notifying those that 'might' be affected by mail.....by mail! Equifax knew of the breach at least 70 days before it was disclosed. The CEO and a handful of other exec's sold stock during those 70 days. Clearly companies that hold such sensitive personal information need to be held to a very high standard and their feet held to the fire when data breeches happen.
An insider trading investigation has been opened. Since Martha Stewart went to jail, these guys need to be put behind bars for 10x longer.
 

winger

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
3,810
Reaction score
354
Points
468
Location
Northern California
An insider trading investigation has been opened. Since Martha Stewart went to jail, these guys need to be put behind bars for 10x longer.
... the key point is, IF they are found guilty of insider trading.

On the flip side, can they be sent to jail for being incompetent and ignorant (really, maybe they really did not know what was going on, don't put that pass them!) - or that is another story? If they are found guilty of insider trading and end up behind bars, it makes sense their jail terms are longer than Martha's, given the seriousness resulting from the data breach. And, you would think after the past decade of numerous high profile inside trading, people would not be dumb enough to do this sort of thing, unless of course they have a death wish (yes, spending time in prison takes away precious days from one's life, if that were not obvious).
 
Last edited:

WinniWoman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
10,762
Reaction score
7,057
Points
749
Location
The Weirs, New Hampshire
Resorts Owned
Innseason Pollard Brook
One thing to consider is news outlets sometimes tend to sensationalize things, even if that means purposely leaving out relevant facts and/or failure of reporter to dig deeper for additional, relevant information. If I were the journalist, I would have dug deeper and figured out what additional training/background she has to qualify her for the Equiafax Officer job and reported this in the article(s). I am trying not to stereotype, but I have read several articles over the years of studies allude to the point that certain music-oriented people actually are really very bright/smart - that music opens up the parts of the mind that could help one succeed in many parts of life. Anyone can Google some of these studies.

On another note - I successfully applied for the free one-year Equifax credit protection/monitoring service last Friday (9/13) and received the generic note that I should be hearing back from them soon (or something to that effect); but, I have yet received anything else by email. Today is 9/19, should I have heard something by now?

Its been a week for me and I still have heard nothing!
 

x3 skier

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
5,266
Reaction score
2,295
Points
649
Location
Ohio and Colorado
Resorts Owned
Steamboat Grand, The West,
Raintree and, formerly, The Allen House
They can't be jailed for being stupid, if they didn't commit a crime but they can be sued (and are) for being stupid. :cool:

Cheers
 

WinniWoman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
10,762
Reaction score
7,057
Points
749
Location
The Weirs, New Hampshire
Resorts Owned
Innseason Pollard Brook
Ok. I just got my email link to complete the Trusted ID protection and completed the sign up process. The email was in my spam folder.

Now my husband- who was not compromised- is waiting to get his email. He applied 2 days after me.
 

Talya

newbie
Joined
Sep 6, 2017
Messages
126
Reaction score
48
Points
38
Location
California
Yesterday (Monday) I received documents from TransUnion verifying my credit freeze. Still waiting for Equifax. So of the three agencies, Experian was the most prompt (within days - maybe 3 days). TransUnion has been just under a week. Waiting on Equifax.
 

x3 skier

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
5,266
Reaction score
2,295
Points
649
Location
Ohio and Colorado
Resorts Owned
Steamboat Grand, The West,
Raintree and, formerly, The Allen House
Yesterday (Monday) I received documents from TransUnion verifying my credit freeze. Still waiting for Equifax. So of the three agencies, Experian was the most prompt (within days - maybe 3 days). TransUnion has been just under a week. Waiting on Equifax.

I would surmise Equifax is fully engaged in a CYA response:D

Cheers
 

winger

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
3,810
Reaction score
354
Points
468
Location
Northern California
I would surmise Equifax is fully engaged in a CYA response:D

Cheers
Do you mean all-hands-on-deck performing CYA activities instead of helping customers?
 

candygirl

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2016
Messages
30
Reaction score
1
Points
68
Location
north tonawanda new york
I came to this conclusion myself some 5 -6 years ago and established Credit Freezes at all the Credit Reporting Agencies. Let me just say that although it is a minor irritant when requesting new credit, I have never regretted my decision.

George
Me too! Since my husband was VERY concerned about security, I found credit freeze info quite a few years ago and signed up immediately. When I told all our friends about it, the reaction was "that's nice" but no one really cared about going that extra mile to do it. Now I sat back and watched as everyone rushed to sign up. The few times we had to unlock the freeze was a small price to pay for having the added security. P.S. Did you know there is a fourth credit company to freeze also? It's "INNOVIS".
 

PeterS

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
277
Reaction score
54
Points
388
Just passing on some info I heard, I am not expert and take it for what you think it worth....

I heard a interview with a security specialist that added some real info to this situation....

First, the Equifax site has been inconsistant telling people one day they were affected and the next they were not...
Even fake SS#s are getting responses so assume you are affected whether you don't check or if you do check no matter what it says.
They say they will be sending out snail mail letters to those who they determine have truly been affected.

As far as credit freezes, they stop the agency from sending out credit reports on you... they do not stop changes to existing credit and they don't stop new credit from being opened... Of course legit businesses, mortgage companies, car dealers, and banks would not open new credit without a credit report. But there are PayDay loan centers and pawn shops and other agencies that deal with people with poor credit so they extend credit without checking because it costs money to run a check and they know it will come back bad anyhow so they save the money and just give the credit. Changing the location your credit bills go to (email or snailmail) can extend the amount of time to use your credit fraudulantly as you will not be getting your bills. Freezes cannot stop any of this.

Filing a fraudulant tax return and stealing your refund is another form of ID theft and credit freezes do nothing to stop this. Filing as early as possible helps but because of regulations, many people do not get all the info they need until late March early April so it may not be possible for everyone.

Filing medical insurance fraud can screw up your medical records because it can cause multiple entries for blood types, past treatments and operations and this can cause confusion in a medical emergency and credit freezes do nothing to stop this.

Criminal record fraud is another item. You get a notice that you didn't show up for you court date in California for assault when you were in New York at the time. You may even have to actually go to court in the other state to show it wasn't you and again, credit freezes do nothing to stop this.

So while credit freezes help, they don't do as much as people think they do. Also right now with the deluge of requests for freezes, people are having problems getting them setup or may not be sure whether it got in or not.

One thing that is not getting much press is social security fraud. I attended a SS seminar and was shocked at how widespread this is.
If you have not signed up for an online My Social Security account, you may want to... soon. I heard horror stories of people who never setup the online account, who were collecting SS and suddenly they stopped getting their money and when they contacted SS they were told someone setup their online account and changed their direct deposit account. Since they didn't know the email or password it was difficult to straighten it out without a visit to their office. Also they have people who never setup the online account because they weren't going to start collecting until say 65 or later. When the time came to file they discovered that they had been collecting since 62 at a reduced rate. It seems that someone setup the online account and started collecting at 62 with their own direct deposit account and no one knew for years until the real person wanted to file. All very difficult to straighten out.

So the best defense is to stay alert and vigilant. If a credit freeze works for you, by all means do it, but it may be better to wait until things calm down alittle and you can be sure it is done and done right. Also, consider setting up your SS online account to protect it and remember everyone at any age (as long as you have a SS number) should consider doing it.

Ironically just as I finished writing this, I saw an Consumer Reports article that confirms these points so check this out... The key is a credit freeze will not fix everything....

https://www.consumerreports.org/equifax/a-freeze-wont-help-with-all-equifax-breach-threats/

Good luck everyone and hopefully some good will come out of this.

Pete
 
Top