Equifax Updates the SEC on its 2017 Data Breach and Related Identity Theft Concerns

On May 7, Equifax’s executives submitted a statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) describing the extent of the consumer data breach that occurred in September of 2017. Equifax described that millions of pieces of personal data were compromised, including social security numbers, names, dates of birth, and driver’s licenses. The report also details over 180,000 consumer credit report disputes related to identity theft and inaccuracies in consumer credit reports.
 
According to the report, the stolen information came from a collection of databases linked to Equifax’s payment systems and web applications. The sensitive personal information compromised from these databases exposes consumers to identity theft, “spear fishing” (fake emails used to access consumer’s personal data on their computer), and telephone scams.
 
To protect yourself from the negative effects of the Equifax data breach, make sure to pull your most recent credit reports from www.annualcreditreport.com and review the reports carefully for any inaccuracies or fraudulent credit information. If any of these banks and credit bureaus fail to update the inaccurate information, you should hire a Las Vegas identity theft lawyer to represent you. It is also important to initiate fraud alerts on your reports and to notify the appropriate governmental entities.

Lawsuits related to identity theft and inaccuracies in a credit report can be brought free of charge because federal law requires the banks and credit bureaus to cover your attorney’s fees and costs as part of your case. You may also receive compensation for actual damages (loan denials, etc.) and statutory damages of up to $1,000.
 
Source: http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/386664-equifax-sends-more-details-on-massive-data-breach-to-congress