TOPEKA, Kansas (WIBW) – A recent breach of Social Security accounts was revealed this week.
We spoke to the Better Business Bureau to find out what you can do to protect your identity.
According to a report by CBS News, a new lawsuit alleges that hackers gained access to the data of billions of people earlier this year.
Social security numbers were also affected by the data leak.
Although the exact number of people affected is unclear, the National Cybersecurity Alliance believes that everyone with a Social Security number was likely affected.
Denise Groene, vice president of operations for the Better Business Bureau of Midwest Plains, told us how you can protect yourself from potential risks like identity theft.
“One of the best ways to prevent identity theft is to freeze your credit reports,” she said.
According to Groene, freezing your credit reports is a simple process and only takes a few minutes.
“It ensures that no one can open accounts in your name, including new credit cards or loans,” she said. “If at any point you are ready and someone needs to see your credit report, you can go back, log into those accounts and unblock them. That’s the best way to protect yourself from identity theft.”
The BBB points out that in the event of identity theft, you are not responsible for the transactions made.
Random emails, fraudulent bank account activity, and random phone calls are all warning signs that you may have been affected by a breach.
Groene said you can freeze your credit reports through several online services, including Experian, TransUnion and EquiFax.
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