Identify Theft – What To Do If Breached

Identity Theft: It's Out of Your Hands

Mugged by Merchants?

The point is that you can do everything to protect your valuable identity—and you will, because it's yours and you care—but after your info enters the ether, there are gaping holes in the protection of your identity. The holes are called online retailers, banks, mortgage providers, ski resorts, hospitals, and even the government. And guess what? They care a hell of a lot less about protecting your identity than you do. It's time for that to change, and it will happen only when we hit them where it hurts, in the bottom line. The next time an entity allows your identity to be stolen, cancel or transfer your account. Don't shop there again. If you got mugged in a physical store, would you keep shopping there?

What to do when you are victimized by a data breach:

1. Close your account. Send an e-mail explaining why and demand confirmation that your confidential information has been deleted from their system. If you can't simply close your account, as in the case of a bank or mortgage, transfer it to another provider. Make your original provider waive all cancellation fees and pay for the transfer. Unwilling to close the account? At the very least, have all related account numbers changed.
2. Cancel all affected credit and debit cards.
3. If the breached entity is the government, write to your local, state, or federal elected officials to make them aware of your displeasure.
4. Immediately call all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your accounts and request free credit reports to review carefully.
5. Demand identity protection services from the breached entity.
6. Inspect all account statements on arrival.
7. Inform all friends, relatives, and acquaintances of the breach and encourage them to avoid the breached entity.