Equifax June 2008 Newsletter
Safeguard your identity with the ultimate in protection products.
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NEW — Our Most Comprehensive Identity Protection Product: ID Patrol™

To address the rising threat of identity theft and ever-evolving scam techniques, we have created a comprehensive and powerful solution to meet your identity theft protection needs. Introducing ID Patrol™ — the most comprehensive identity protection product Equifax has ever offered. ID Patrol combines a wealth of powerful features designed to offer you strong protection combined with credit file monitoring to help keep you both informed and out of harm's way.

ID Patrol does more than any other Equifax product to help protect you from identity theft. Only ID Patrol allows you to lock and unlock your Equifax credit file;* alerts you if your personal information was found in suspected underground identity trading sites;** gives you around-the-clock access to Identity Theft Resolution Specialists; and monitors your Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit files, alerting you to key changes within 24 hours.

ID Patrol combines the most comprehensive monitoring, locking and scanning features to give you more peace of mind. ID Patrol gives you the ability to:

Lock and unlock your Equifax credit file:
The ability to lock and unlock access to your Equifax credit file means that you control who can see your Equifax credit file — and when.* This helps prevent anyone other than you from opening credit in your name. You can also unlock access to your file for specific companies or specified periods of time. That way, you can still open accounts when you need to, and remain secure knowing that you're in control of your Equifax credit file.

Scan the Internet for your personal information:
Selling identities online in suspected underground Internet trading sites is one of the newer, more destructive ways that identity thieves could obtain your personal information. These sites are usually temporary and hard for the average Internet user to find. That's why ID Patrol's WebDetect™ feature will proactively scan the Internet for your Social Security number (if you choose) and up to 10 major credit/debit card account numbers you provide, alerting you within 24 hours if your information is found.

Identity Theft Resolution Specialists:
If you're concerned that your identity may have been compromised, Equifax ID Theft Resolution Specialists are available 24/7 to help you create a personal action plan. In addition to answering your questions, our ID Theft Resolution Specialists can also guide you through the steps you should consider taking if you become a victim of identity theft. Nothing gives you peace of mind more than knowing that a dedicated expert is available to you around the clock.

Daily, comprehensive monitoring of all three national credit files:
Daily credit monitoring is one of the best ways to protect your credit health and identity. Ensure the accuracy of what's being reported about you and know of any key changes to credit files at all three of your nationwide credit reporting agencies with ID Patrol. Receive e-mail or wireless alerts of any key changes to your Equifax, Experian or TransUnion credit files within 24 hours.

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Tip of the Month: Adding your Personal Information for Internet Scanning

The Equifax WebDetect™ feature of ID Patrol™ scans the Internet for your Social Security number (if you choose) and up to 10 major credit/debit card account numbers you provide. Enter your personal information in the Member Center to receive alerts if your information is found on suspected underground identity trading sites.

Steps:
Step 1: Log into the Member Center
Step 2: "Equifax WebDetect" is on the right side of screen
Step 3: Click the green "Add" button
Step 4: Enter whether you want to scan for your Social Security number and/or up to 10 major credit/debit card numbers in the form fields and click "Submit"

Intuitive navigation and a helpful dashboard structure make entering your information into the Member Center a breeze.

Login Now

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Interactive Tool: Equifax Fraud Index

Equifax regularly scans millions of records for instances of reported fraud. Each month, our experts collect this information and translate it into an index of "high" to "low" by zip code. The same information is broken out across such demographics as gender, annual income, age and credit score range. You can dynamically search our map to see how your area measures up — even see how your state, county, or zip code compares to the national average.

Check the Index

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Equifax and BBB Identity Theft Alerts: Have You Been Victimized by Identity Theft?

BBB

It is important to recognize that there is no way to entirely protect yourself from identity theft. That's because as you move through your daily life, you almost certainly carry personal information with you and leave bits and pieces of your personal information behind — in credit applications, insurance records, doctors' offices, etc. So, someone who is determined to single you out to steal your identity can probably do so.

An increasing number of Americans have had their personal information stolen and used to open fraudulent bank, credit card or utility accounts — or even used to commit other types of financial crimes.

Most victims of identity theft normally do not know they have been victimized until:

  • They are contacted by a collection agency over past due accounts they never knew they had
  • They receive credit cards for which they did not apply
  • Significant charges show up on a credit card bill for purchases they never made
  • They notice unexplained charges or withdrawals on their bank accounts
  • They are denied credit for no apparent reason
  • They fail to receive bills or other mail, which may signal an address change by the identity thief
  • A lender tries to repossess a car they did not know they owned
  • They are contacted by the police after a crime is committed in their name

The BBB and the FTC advise that although any of these indicators could be a result of a simple error, you should not assume that there has been a mistake and do nothing. Always follow up with the business or institution in question to find out how the error occurred.

If you become a victim, it is extremely important that you act immediately to stop any further fraudulent use of your identity. Report the crime to the police. Call your bank and credit card issuers. Contact the fraud unit of the three credit reporting companies. Request that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file, as well as a victim's statement asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts or changing your existing accounts.

For more information about identity theft protection, please visit www.us.bbb.org.

© 2008 by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. Arlington, VA
Used by permission. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

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