by Alex Lloyd Gross
Over 3200 different companies have had consumer data compromised last year and that number can increase this year, Dave Shallcross from the PA Attorney General’s office said. He gave a quick talk on what to expect during this type of matter. Just because you get a latter saying the information was compromised, does not mean anything nefarious will happen, Shallcross said.
One thing people can do is to freeze their credit before this happens. So when someone tries to open a new account, they get denied. You can take the freeze off when you want new credit and turn it back on again. Get a free copy of your credit report . Should you find a discrepancy, you can dispute it.
If your identity is stolen, file a police report in the town you live in. You can get that report from the police but it might cost you a few dollars. You are entitled to this report.
If a store that you shop at sends you an email with a link, do not click on it before calling the store. Talk to the customer service department and have them send you a new email right away. You initiated that call so you can provide information, such as name, address or even social security number. You can click on the link they just sent.
If a link is suspicious, put your mouse over the link but do not click the link. See the return address of where the link originated from. Some emails or text from reputable sources like the post office can be faked. Take the email on your phone to the post office, before you click on any links from them, to make sure they sent it. Chances are it’s a scam to get you to click the link.
Using free WIFI without any password is a great way to have information compromised. Do not enter any passwords or conduct financial transactions using this service. There will be amore comprehensive seminar about scams September 12, 2024 at the Lower Moreland Library.