A data breach exposes confidential information of its victims, which can include Social Security numbers, account information, passwords and more. If your personal information has been compromised, take these five steps to mitigate the damage.
Step 1: Read all alerts and notifications from the compromised company. The business whose data has been compromised in the breach will generally reach out to all potential victims to notify them about the exposure. They may instruct all recipients to check for signs that their information has been exposed and/or direct them toward their next step. If you believe your information may have been compromised in a breach, it is important to read every message you receive from the exposed company.
Step 2: Alert your credit union. Next, let SeaComm know your account may have been compromised. This way, we will know to keep an eye out for signs of fraud and place an alert on your account. Call us at (800) 764-0566 or visit your local SeaComm branch location.
Step 3: Change any exposed passwords. A data breach generally means passwords of all kinds have been compromised. It is best to change as many as possible after a breach to keep information and money safe.
Step 4: Consider a credit freeze. A credit freeze alerts lenders and credit companies to the fact that you may have been a victim of fraud. This added layer of protection will make it difficult, or impossible, for hackers to open a new credit line or loan in your name. You can freeze your credit at no cost with all three of the major credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. You will need to provide some basic information to receive a PIN for the freeze. Use this number to lift the freeze when you believe it is safe to do so.
Step 5: File an identity theft report. If your accounts have been compromised and you believe your identity has been stolen, file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) immediately. This will assist the feds in tracking down the scammers responsible for the data breach. It will also help you return your finances to their usual state as quickly as possible.
To help protect your information from future data breaches of any kind, upgrade to a Benefits Plus® checking account with SeaComm! Your Benefits Plus® membership entitles you to identity theft services, free annual credit reports, IDT Restoration Rescue® and more. You may even upgrade to Benefits Plus® Premium, which provides you with all the advantages of a Benefits Plus® checking account, plus additional protection from Ultimate ID®, which includes:
- 3 bureau credit monitoring
- Internet monitoring
- Instant inquiry alerts
- Remediation and lost documentation replacement services.
Visit your local SeaComm branch to upgrade your checking account, today!
For complete information, terms, conditions and exclusions please visit www.benefits-plus.org or call 866-329-7587.
Click here to access the SeaComm Fraud Center, which includes valuable resources to help educate and empower our members to protect their assets and identities.