Good news: I get two years of credit monitoring for free!

[wurm]

Bad news: It's because of another data breach. This time with CHANGE Healthcare. I didn't even know I used them...because I personally don't. But apparently a lot of health insurance companies do, mine included.

This company suggested a fraud alert, but as it happens, a week or so ago I finally decided to put a credit freeze on my accounts. I think I'm okay, and I do scrupulously check all my credit card and bank statements when I get them.

So yippee, two more years of credit monitoring for free.

[Will Collier]

I've long since lost track of all the data breach notifications.

After my encounter with an identity thief back in the annus horribillis of 2020, we put a freeze on all our credit and left it that way. Less hassle to do an occasional unlock than to deal with the constant BS.

[PeterB]

Yes, I got the same notification.

It's incredible that these firms don't get their @$$es sued off for being so cavalier about securing people's data, or that if they do get sued, it's the petty class-actions that give the customers $0.41 or some nonsense like that.

More about this data breach:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technolog...ta-breach/
https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/...8a880d61ff
https://www.ispartnersllc.com/blog/chang...ach%202024&text=gained%20access%20to%20Change's%20data,other%20processes%20across%20its%20infrastructure.

... this is really quite serious, because it's not just about SS#'s ... there was personally identifying information about medical conditions and tests, etc.

[rgG]

I got a notification that my SS# was found on the dark web. Lovely.
It was also suggested that I put a fraud alert on, so I did.
I have had a credit freeze on for years.
Not much else I can do

[Tiangou]

The Change Healthcare one is particularly egregious.

Do BOTH the fraud alert and credit freeze.

[jh]

wurm wrote:
Bad news: It's because of another data breach. This time with CHANGE Healthcare. I didn't even know I used them...because I personally don't. But apparently a lot of health insurance companies do, mine included.

This company suggested a fraud alert, but as it happens, a week or so ago I finally decided to put a credit freeze on my accounts. I think I'm okay, and I do scrupulously check all my credit card and bank statements when I get them.

So yippee, two more years of credit monitoring for free.

I have four credit monitoring accounts. One I pay for from years ago when the voting register database had a data breach. The others are free (one for 3 or 4 years) from HCA, State of TN, and some other one I can't remember off hand. Plus I froze my credit.

Just waiting for the next data breach affecting me. :confused:

[Black]

I've had fraud alert/credit freeze on my to do list for a while now. What's the easiest way to do it?

[Will Collier]

Black wrote:
I've had fraud alert/credit freeze on my to do list for a while now. What's the easiest way to do it?

Just log in to each of the three credit services (start accounts if you don't have them already) and select the credit freeze option:

https://clark.com/credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/

[wurm]

Did the Fraud alert this morning on the Experian site, which goes to all three. The freeze needs to be done at each respective site.