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WHEN INFORMATION IS LOST OR EXPOSED

Did you recently get a notice that says your personal information was exposed in
a data breach? Did you lose your wallet? Or learn that an online account was
hacked? Depending on what information was lost, there are steps you can take to
help protect yourself from identity theft.

Is someone using your information to open new accounts or make purchases? Report
it and get help.


WHAT INFORMATION WAS LOST OR EXPOSED?

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Social Security number

If a company responsible for exposing your information offers you free credit
monitoring, take advantage of it.
Get your free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com. Check for any accounts
or charges you don’t recognize.
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, be ready to take a few extra steps the next time 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.

Try to file your taxes early — before a scammer can. Tax identity theft happens
when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job.
Respond right away to letters from the IRS.
Don’t believe anyone who calls and says you’ll be arrested unless you pay for
taxes or debt — even if they have part or all of your Social Security number, or
they say they’re from the IRS.
Continue to check your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com. You can check
your reports every week for free.

Online login or password

Log in to that account and change your password. If possible, also change your
username.
 * If you can’t log in, contact the company. Ask them how you can recover or
   shut down the account.

If you use the same password anywhere else, change that, too.
Is it a financial site, or is your credit card number stored? Check your account
for any charges that you don’t recognize.

Debit or credit card number

Contact your bank or credit card company to cancel your card and request a new
one.
Review your transactions regularly. Make sure no one misused your card.
 * If you find fraudulent charges, call the fraud department and get them
   removed.

If you have automatic payments set up, update them with your new card number.
Check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.

Bank account information

Contact your bank to close the account and open a new one.
Review your transactions regularly to make sure no one misused your account.
 * If you find fraudulent charges or withdrawals, call the fraud department and
   get them removed.

If you have automatic payments set up, update them with your new bank account
information.
Check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.

Driver's license information

Contact your nearest motor vehicles branch to report a lost or stolen driver’s
license. The state might flag your license number in case someone else tries to
use it, or they might suggest that you apply for a duplicate.
Check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.

Children's personal information

Request a free credit freeze for your child. A credit freeze will make it
difficult for someone to use your child’s information to open accounts. To place
a freeze, follow the specific instructions for each credit bureau:
 * Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
   1-800-685-1111
 * Experian.com/help
   888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
 * TransUnion.com/credit-help
   888-909-8872

Generally, children won’t have credit reports — unless someone is using their
information for fraud. To find out if your child has a credit report, ask each
credit bureau to check its records. Each bureau has specific instructions for
these requests:
 * Equifax
 * Experian (Click on "Minor child instructions" under "Additional resources")
 * TransUnion

If a credit bureau has a credit report for your child, the credit bureau will
send you a copy of the report. Use the instructions provided with the credit
report to remove fraudulent accounts.
Review the FTC’s information on Child Identity Theft.


WERE YOU AFFECTED BY ONE OF THESE SPECIFIC DATA BREACHES?

Equifax

In July 2019, Equifax settled a lawsuit stemming from its 2017 data breach,
which exposed the personal information of 147 million people. Under the
settlement with the FTC, CFPB and state attorneys general, Equifax has agreed to
spend up to $425 million to help people affected by the data breach. If you were
affected, you may be eligible for benefits. Visit ftc.gov/Equifax to learn more.

Marriott's Starwood Hotels & Resorts

In November 2018, the Marriott International hotel chain announced a data breach
had exposed the personal information of anyone who made a reservation at one of
its Starwood hotels or timeshare properties on or before September 10, 2018. To
learn more about the breach and free monitoring services for affected customers,
call 877-273-9481.
Here are some additional steps you might want to take:


BECAUSE YOUR DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED ...

Check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.
Review your transactions regularly. Make sure no one misused your card.
 * If you find fraudulent charges, call the fraud department and get them
   removed. Also, cancel your card and request a new one.

If you have automatic payments set up, update them with your new credit card
number.


PLACE A FRAUD ALERT ...

Place a free, one-year fraud alert by contacting one of the three credit
bureaus.That company must tell the other two.


CONSIDER A CREDIT FREEZE ...

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, making it more difficult
for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name.
 * It’s free to place or remove.
 * It lasts until you lift or remove it.

Set it by contacting each of the three credit bureaus.

IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity
theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to
guide you through the recovery process.

Visit ftc.gov/idtheft for prevention tips and free resources to share in your
community.

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Create a Personal Recovery Plan
Browse Recovery Steps


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Know Your Rights
Sample Letters
Warning Signs of Identity Theft
What To Do If Your Info Is Lost or Stolen
Credit Bureau Contact Info
Other Helpful Contact Info

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