Data breach...Social Security numbers and more stolen...nearly 3 billion Americans affected

[Debp]

What next?!!!

I think this is why the mark of the beast will be ushered in. Too many data breaches.

 

[SavedInHim]

This is a big wakeup call that people need to be very cautious and vigilant about protecting their important accounts. These are things people should've been doing all along. I hate 2 Factor Authentication, it slows you down and can be a hassle; but it pays off in security.

When I found out about this, I created accounts with the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and Transunion. Then I put a freeze on my credit reports. This prevents people from stealing your identity and applying for credit card accounts in your name; or other things that require them to get a credit report. It took about an hour to do all three but I feel more secure now.

I wouldn't waste money on things like LifeLock that claim to alert you when your identity has been stolen. They charge hefty fees, and in many cases don't alert you until months after the damage has been done.

What I'd like to know is how all these records ended up in the hands of one private company.

 

[Jay Ross]

The title gives the wrong impression as there are not 3 billion American citizens. I believe the number is more like 350 million Americans living in the USA.

 

[Karl Peters]

The title gives the wrong impression as there are not 3 billion American citizens. I believe the number is more like 350 million Americans living in the USA.

Why do you think it was only "American citizens"???

And just FYI, my son told me that a few days ago, someone just called his bank and had money (about $4,000) transferred from his money transferred by phone from his saving to his checking and then spent it! The bank said they would look into it and get back to him in 10 days. Lucky they didn't take it all and he still had enough to handle it, but he still has not got it back. We assume they will come good in the 10 days, but this was a large well-known bank, and someone somehow got all the information on him to just call them on the phone and make transfers and spending?

It's a huge problem for world wide banking!! Still God knows and we get by. There is a reason for hell, and God is just. So those going there will be fully deserving!

 

[Debp]

The title gives the wrong impression as there are not 3 billion American citizens. I believe the number is more like 350 million Americans living in the USA.

I read that maybe deceased people are included in the figure. Also, others like legal immigrants and illegal migrants can get Social Security numbers.

 

[Debp]

And just FYI, my son told me that a few days ago, someone just called his bank and had money (about $4,000) transferred from his money transferred by phone from his saving to his checking and then spent it! The bank said they would look into it and get back to him in 10 days. Lucky they didn't take it all and he still had enough to handle it, but he still has not got it back. We assume they will come good in the 10 days, but this was a large well-known bank, and someone somehow got all the information on him to just call them on the phone and make transfers and spending?

That's scary.

I do some business with a bank that uses my voice as my password....now I understand why they did this several months ago.

 

[Jay Ross]

Why do you think it was only "American citizens"???

Because the title infers this: -

Data breach...Social Security numbers and more stolen...nearly 3 billion Americans affected​

Because the title infers that that was the case.

What other countries and nations have social security numbers.

A social security number is nothing more than a national ID number. Most countries have some type of national ID number. For example, the UK has a national insurance number, although it is not as accepted for identity as the U.S. social security number is.

 

[Debp]

I finished freezing my credit yesterday with the third credit reporting agency.

I also phoned a few neighbors to let them know about it all. Some of them don't watch much news or didn't realize the importance of freezing their credit.

 

[Debp]

When I found out about this, I created accounts with the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and Transunion. Then I put a freeze on my credit reports. This prevents people from stealing your identity and applying for credit card accounts in your name; or other things that require them to get a credit report. It took about an hour to do all three but I feel more secure now.

I appreciated your input on this. So I did it online, too. It was a bit longer for me to do, but I did one at a time.