National Public Data Breach

You may have recently seen reports about a significant data breach at National Public Data, a data company that performs employee background checks, potentially exposing the personal information, including Social Security numbers, of millions of Americans. We understand this news might be concerning, and you may be wondering what steps you should take to protect yourself.

While there’s no need for alarm, it’s always wise to be proactive. Here are some steps you may consider taking to safeguard your financial well-being.

Monitor Your Financial Accounts

• Keep an Eye on Your Accounts: Regularly review your bank and credit card statements for any suspicious activity. Most of us don’t always check every transaction closely, but now is a good time to start.

Consider Credit Monitoring

• Sign Up for Credit Monitoring: Setting up credit monitoring can help you track any misuse of your personal information. This will alert you if someone tries to use your information fraudulently.

Place a Fraud Alert

• Contact a Credit Reporting Agency: Reach out to one of the three major U.S. credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion—to place a fraud alert on your account. This tells creditors to verify with you before opening new credit accounts in your name. Once set up, the alert will be active with all three agencies for one year.

Consider a Credit Freeze

• Freeze Your Credit: If you’re particularly concerned about identity theft, you might opt for a credit freeze, which prevents any new credit from being issued without your direct authorization. This is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from unauthorized credit activity.

Enhance Your Cybersecurity

• Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Make sure you’re not reusing passwords across different accounts. Each account should have its own strong, unique password to reduce the risk if one account is compromised.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a text message or authentication app, in addition to your password.

Stay Vigilant Against Scams

• Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Communications: Be cautious of phone calls, emails, or text messages claiming to be from your bank or service providers. Never send money or provide sensitive information like usernames or passwords to these contacts. If you’re concerned the message might be legitimate, separately search for the company’s customer service line or fraud department to verify.

While we hope that you are not impacted by this breach, it’s always better to be prepared. If you have any concerns or need further guidance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help you navigate through this and ensure your financial security remains intact.