Consumer Affairs Offers Tips to Help You Determine if Your Identity was Compromised in Equifax Breach

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)- After the massive Equifax security breach impacted our entire nation, officials in our state want to make sure millions of people that were affected here know how to avoid a security compromise.

The Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) said hackers are not just looking for credit anymore, they may be on the hunt for things like your health benefits or pension. So no matter what your economic status may be, the department is sharing three steps they want everyone to follow to spot fraudulent activity.

The Department of Consumers Affairs said either you or someone you know had their information exposed in Equifax’s security breach.

“2.3 million South Carolinians, were affected, we only have a population of 4.9 million. So if you take the children out, who should not have credit reports, it’s basically one in two,” said SCDCA Administrator Carri Grube Lybarker.

Susan Cary of Leesville she was concerned after she heard what happened. “You’ve been through life and everything is going is okay then all of a sudden, BOOM, you’ve got to watch you do and really guard everything, your credit card, your bank card, just be one of those vigilant consumers,” said Cary.

You can be observant also. The department recommended you place a security freeze on your credit reports first so no one can access them without your permission.

“We are one of the few states that allows consumers to place a freeze, thaw out that freeze for a specified time or specified creditor, and to permanently lift that freeze for free. It doesn’t matter who you’re placing it with; it could be Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, it is free!” Lybarker said.

Their second step was to check your free credit report every 12 months. The third step was to put a fraud alert.

“This is a federal law privilege that consumers have. It’s in place for 90 days and it basically tells a business who gets an application where a credit check is required to take extra steps to verify that it is in fact you who is applying for that product or service,” said Lybarker.

You can call 800-922-1594 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. any day of the week. You can also visit their website here for more helpful tips.