TransUnion Hacked. A Rant about Credit Bureaus

[DontTreadOnMe]

I was a victim a few years back.  I've had no problem since I learned to secure everything. 
 
1. Get a pair of security keys, like "yubikey" and use them to secure your emails. Use them on any important site if possible. If they hack your email they can research what sites your email is connected to and change the passwords.

2. Get control of all 3 credit bureaus and freeze them. If you need to get a loan you can unfreeze them at any time. 

Any questions are welcome about keeping safe.

#2 sounds like a plan.
However.
You do know you cannot lock your credit for free anymore....although those three bureaus SHOULD do it for free.
TransUnion is still free.
Experian has two plans.....and the $5.00 per month isn't too bad.
Equifax wants $9.99 just to freeze your account.

[Raptured]

I just bought a new car.  Before I did the financials I unfroze all 3 accounts.  After the paperwork went through, I reinstated the freeze on all 3.   Maybe you were looking in the wrong place?

Freezing is free to do.  They will try to upsell you a ton of services that you don't need.  Experian is the worst.

Kind of like when you use TurboTax to file your yearly and they constantly bombard you to "upgrade to Premium" bullshit.  Credit agencies are no different.

[Orionthehunter]

My data has been hacked multiple times.  I have my credit frozen with 3 major credit companies.  The AI search results states it is federal law allowing people to freeze and unfreeze at no cost.   I did have to provide an email so now I get occasional emails trying to get me to sign up for a paid service.

It is frustrating.   I used to use ATT phone company and read they were hacked as well but they never informed me.  Seems like everyone is getting hacked.  My latest free credit monitoring expired but if I search,  I may be eligible for some other hacked provider.

To my most recent frustration,  I found out there is a 4th credit agency I knew nothing about.  Yesterday and today to add to my frustration my mortgage company recently called me twice trying to get me to discuss a new loan.  I called them today and said not interested.  When the girl attempted to transfer me, told her my mortgage rate was less than 3% and not interested in any discussion about saving money on my mortgage.   Idiots don’t even know what my current rate is apparently or just want new loans.

I would have to unfreeze all my credit.

[rickymouse]

About five years ago my credit card got hacked, I got two little bottles of hemp oil in the mail, someone had acquired my credit card and pin and did a trial purchase.  I called the credit card company after checking my balance online, and sure enough, it had been charged.  So I called the credit card company and they took it off my bill and changed my card number, and I authorized a legitimate purchase I had made.  The woman at the credit card company said it was probably a test, the order originated in Nevada and the product came from California.  She fixed the issue while I was on the phone, the number I called was on our statement and she said it was good I called right away when I discovered it.  It cost me nothing, and the woman said it was not from the last transaction.  The only one within six months of that was the State of Michigan....builders license renewal, and I heard they got hacked.

[Knows]

#2 sounds like a plan.
However.
You do know you cannot lock your credit for free anymore....although those three bureaus SHOULD do it for free.
TransUnion is still free.
Experian has two plans.....and the $5.00 per month isn't too bad.
Equifax wants $9.99 just to freeze your account.

I have or had separate websites for each of the 3 credit bureaus. I froze all of them years ago for nothing. And I use AAA to monitor activity. I can unfreeze equafax for nothing from the AAA site.  Also have them remove any internet information on the Web  about me.

[Knows]

The dark web has had it all for at least 20 years. No one has used my SS# yet, and I'm not worried about credit scores. I got hacked once through my debit card and I believe it got compromised at a store in town. It never has happened again, but my GF's debit card gets hacked like three times a year from online activity.

Email is important. Don't have an email without a security key or at least an Authenticator app. Security key is very easy and quick to use.