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PA Wolf Administration Advises Consumers to 'Take Control' of Their Personal and Financial Data Following Equifax BreachHARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following the recent announcement that hackers had gained access to consumer data from Equifax, one of the three major credit-reporting agencies, Secretary of Banking and Securities Robin L. Wiessmann today advised consumers to take control of their personal and financial data. When consumers apply for credit cards, bank accounts, or loans, lenders rely on this information supplied by Equifax and the other two major credit reporting agencies, Experian and TransUnion. Equifax announced that data of 143 million American consumers may have been compromised, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and even drivers' license numbers and credit card numbers. "We are living in an age where technology has made simple tasks easier and complex functions more convenient," Secretary Wiessmann said. "However, along with these advances in technology, the associated risks to consumers have evolved and become more challenging and daunting. People's identities can be stolen, their bank accounts can be drained, and their credit can be ruined by criminals in distant lands over the course of weeks, months, or even years." Wiessmann advises that consumers look out for new scams and consider taking steps to help protect their personal and financial data.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud or identity theft, you can contact:
The department offers additional online resources that can help consumers protect themselves from cyberthieves:
Consumers can contact the department with questions about financial issues or to file a complaint at 1-800-PA-BANKS. Members of the public are invited to connect to the department through Facebook and Twitter, or subscribing to the department's newsletter. MEDIA CONTACT: Ed Novak, 717-783-4721
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pa-wolf-administration-advises-consumers-to-take-control-of-their-personal-and-financial-data-following-equifax-breach-300519296.html SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities |