AG Nessel Re-issues Consumer Alert on Data Breaches as Part of National Consumer Protection Week

LANSING – As part of National Consumer Protection Week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is drawing Michigan residents’ attention to the department’s consumer alert on data breaches, providing tips and resources to residents who have had their personal information stolen or misused. Michigan consumers have recently faced a number of significant data breaches, including incidents involving McLaren Health Care, Change Healthcare, Ascension Healthcare, and AT&T.

“The number of data breaches and reported incidents of identity theft continue to rise, with someone in the U.S. falling victim every two seconds,” Nessel said. “If your information is compromised in a breach, you need to take the threat seriously and take steps to protect yourself from identity theft.”

You can protect yourself during a data breach by taking the following actions:

• Watch out for phishing emails;
• Strengthen or change your passwords;
• Do not retain unnecessary data or files;
• Use multifactor authentication on devices and accounts; and
• Review your credit report often. Take advantage of free weekly credit reports from each of the three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, by contacting the Annual Credit Report website.

If consumers are concerned that their data may have been impacted, they can also consider freezing their credit. A credit freeze prevents creditors—such as banks or lenders—from accessing individuals’ credit reports. This will stop identity thieves from taking out new loans or credit cards in consumer’s names because creditors will not approve their loans or credit requests if they cannot first access their credit reports. By law, a credit bureau must allow you to place, temporarily lift, or remove a credit freeze for free.

When consumers freeze their credit with each bureau, the bureaus will send them a personal identification number. The consumers can then use that PIN to unfreeze their credit if they want to apply for a loan or credit card. Consumers can also use the PIN to freeze their credit again after they have applied for loans or a new credit card.

Individuals will have to freeze their credit with each bureau: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

• Equifax: 800-685-1111
• Experian: 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
• TransUnion: 888-909-8872

To file a complaint with the Attorney General, or get additional information, contact:

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form

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