How to Respond to a Data Breach

 

Since October is cybersecurity month, we wanted to share this article adapted from Schwab’s Data Breach flyer about the necessary action steps to take after your personal information has been compromised. The Equifax breach is a recent reminder for everyone to take precautions with their personal information when transacting online, interacting with merchants, and corresponding by mail and email.

Time is of the Essence

Whether your personal data has been compromised as part of a larger targeted cyberattack, or you are the victim of an individual cybercrime, you’ll need to take immediate action to minimize the impact. These are steps you should take within specified timeframes after discovering your data has been breached.

What to do within the first 24-48 hours

1. If you are a client of CCMI’s, give us a call regardless of where or how the breach occurred, so we can watch for any suspicious activity in your accounts and collaborate with you on extra precautions to take in verifying your identity prior to any fund transfers. If you suspect you’re the victim of fraud, call CCMI and we will work with Schwab to escalate your matter to the Fraud Prevention & Investigations team to investigate your case and take necessary precautions to prevent any unauthorized debits.
2. Call the Social Security Administration’s fraud hotline at 800-269-0271 if you suspect your Social Security number has been compromised. The Office of the Inspector General will take your report and investigate activity using your Social Security number. The Social Security Administration also provides helpful materials, such as the pamphlet Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number.
3. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), either at identitytheft.gov, by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (TTY 1-866-653-4261), or by visiting www.ftc.gov. Click on Report Identity Theft to access the Identity Theft Recovery Steps. This one-stop resource for victims of identity theft will guide you through each step of the recovery process, from reporting the crime to creating a personal recovery plan and putting your plan to action.
4. Visit the IRS website https://www.irs.gov/uac/taxpayer-guide-to-identity-theft if you’re the victim of tax fraud. You’ll be able to access the Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft, which provides education on tax-related identity theft, tips to reduce your risk, and steps for victims to take.
5. If appropriate, close any compromised or unauthorized accounts. Alternatively, you may request a cloned account through Schwab Alliance. This allows an identical account to be opened, your assets moved, and the compromised account closed.
6. Run reputable anti-virus/anti-malware/anti-spyware software to clean your computer.
7. Once you’ve ensured your computer is virus/malware/spyware free, you should change passwords on your accounts. Make each password unique, long, and strong, and use two-factor authentication when available.

What to do within the first week

1. If the breach occurred at a firm with whom you do business, be sure to follow the legitimate directions provided by that firm. If it offers credit protection services, sign-up for the service.
2. Report the crime to your local police, even though the incident may cross multiple jurisdictions. Your local police will file a formal report and may be able to refer you to additional resources and agencies that can help.
3. Report your stolen money and/or identity to one of the three main credit bureaus. Provide the credit bureau with your police report number and ask them to place a fraud alert on your account to prevent additional fraudulent activity. Once the fraud alert is activated, the two other credit bureaus will receive automatic notification and the fraud alert on your credit report will be in place for seven years with all three credit bureaus. (Without your police report number, the alert will only be in place for 90 days.)

Experian: 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

4. Put a freeze on your credit report with each of the main credit bureaus to prevent the unauthorized opening of accounts. Many CCMI clients have already taken this step as a result of the Equifax breach. Executing a freeze with one credit bureau will NOT automatically update the others. You can unfreeze your credit report when needed. Contact the credit bureaus using this contact information for freezes.

Equifax: 1-800-685-1111
www.freeze.equifax.com

Experian: 1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com/freeze/center.html

TransUnion: 1-888-909-8872
www.transunion.com/securityfreeze

5. Review all recent account statements for unauthorized activity and report any suspicious transactions to the business where the unauthorized or suspicious activity occurred.
6. Consider what other personal information (e.g., birth date, social security number, PIN numbers, account numbers and passwords) may be at risk and alert the appropriate businesses.
7. Begin collecting and saving evidence such as account statements, canceled checks, receipts, and emails that may be useful if an investigation is warranted regarding the cybercrime.

What to do within the next 30 days and beyond

1. Carefully review statements on all accounts as soon as they arrive. Look for unauthorized activity, and report any suspicious transactions to the business where the unauthorized or suspicious activity occurred.
2. Notify your friends, family, business associates, and other relevant parties in your contact list that you were hacked. Tell them to beware of emails that may have been sent to them from your account.
3. Speak with CCMI regarding precautions you’ll jointly take to enhance the identity verification process when you want to execute financial transactions.
4. For additional protection, consider using a Schwab security token when accessing your Schwab accounts. You can order a free token through Schwab Alliance at 1-800-515-2157.
5. If you’re a victim of Social Security fraud, go to socialsecurity.gov/myaccount and create an online Social Security account. This will enable you to access and review your statement online and verify its accuracy.
6. Request a credit report every six months to check for unauthorized activity. It will NOT affect your credit score.

Be diligent in taking precautions to avoid further security incidents.

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