Your Social Security number is worth $125 in the eyes of Equifax, at least.
Equifax, a credit reporting agency, leaked consumers most sensitive information, including 145.5 million Social Security numbers.
Claims must be submitted by Jan. 22, 2020.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help…
The Penny Hoarder reached out to the Equifax settlement administrator to see how many people have submitted a claim.
A representative for the administrator declined to comment by phone about whether that information is available.
Hackers then allegedly exploited that vulnerability to gain access to its online grid.
Arelease from the FTCon the July 2019 settlement described the breach as preventable.
Did you know?
These credentials allowed the hackers to gain access to vast amounts of consumers personally identifiable information.
Bur Equifax said it denies any wrongdoing, and no judgment or finding of wrongdoing has been made.
On theofficial settlement website, you’re free to check whether your data was breached in seconds.
Your last name and the last six digits of your Social Security number are required.
Should You Claim the Money?
There are unintended consequences to consider when applying for the money.
Once that information is out there, its out there, he said.
The problem could potentially last forever.
Hypothetically, if every affected American applied, the cash payout would reduce significantly.
you could also call the settlement administrator directly to get updates on your claim at 1-833-759-2982.
Should You Opt Out of the Settlement?
After that date, you forfeit the right to sue Equifax.
If youre considering a separate lawsuit, its important to consult a lawyer.
The number one thing is being aware of what types of cyber assets you have, he said.
While most people already know to guard these numbers, identity theft requires more information.
And that additional information is often readily shared online birthdays, hometowns, employment history and more.
With a quick Facebook search, a hacker could fill in the few missing pieces.
To combat this, Samtani suggests several ways to shield yourself from identity theft and oversharing.
Sometimes public records include full names and addresses.
If this info is already available, be extra cautious of sharing additional information online.
Social media profiles: Make them private and consider what youre sharing, even if your account is private.
Often times, users willingly share personal information unaware of exactly who is reading it.
Passwords: Change passwords regularly and never use the same ones across numerous accounts.
Be totally vigilant, he said.
Do whatever you’re able to to minimize what kind of information is out there.
Adam Hardy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
He specializes in ways to make money that dont involve stuffy corporate offices.
Read his latest articles here, or say hi on Twitter@hardyjournalism.
When you log into your bank account, how do your savings look?
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
