Equifax Breach May Affect Credit Information

Equifax recently announced that it had suffered a data breach which occurred between mid-May through July of 2017, affecting some 143 million consumers in the United States.

“We at Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union work hard each day to ensure that our members information is secure within our credit union and we remain diligent in keeping our members data safe.

“In addition to serving our members, we also have a responsibility to help the larger Hudson Valley community deal with issues like this when they occur”, said HVFCU President and CEO Mary Madden. “The public should be made aware that there are actions they can take to protect themselves.”  HVFCU recommends the following:

· Equifax is offering a website where you can check to see if you are one of the 143 million people whose data is compromised: www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. Equifax is also offering all U.S. consumers a year of free credit monitoring and identity theft insurance – we highly recommend you sign up for that regardless of whether your data was compromised or not.

This includes 3-Bureau credit monitoring of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports; copies of Equifax credit reports; the ability to lock and unlock Equifax credit reports; identity theft insurance; and Internet scanning for Social Security numbers – all complimentary to U.S. consumers for one year.

· You may want to consider extending and paying for credit monitoring services after that free year of Equifax services expire as the data attackers may try to utilize the data once potential victims lose their free credit monitoring.

· Consumers can also receive a free annual credit report by going to www.freecreditreport.com or you can also request a free annual credit report by going individually to each of the three major bureau’s:  www.equifax.com; www.transunion.com; www.experian.com.

The key is for all consumers to remain vigilant in monitoring their personal credit report and activity on a regular basis.  In the meantime, HFVCU continues to diligently protect the data of our members as we do every day.

Equifax recommends that consumers with additional questions visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com or contact a dedicated call center at 866-447-7559, which the company set up to assist consumers. The call center is open every day (including weekends) from 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. Eastern time.