BBB Tip of the Week
Like the Anthem data breach, Premera Blue Cross was also victim of a cyber-attack. The data breach affected more than 11 million customers of Premera Blue Cross, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, and its affiliate brands: Vivacity and Connexion Insurance Solutions Inc. Those affected can find out more information at www.premeraupdate.com, including how to receive free credit monitoring for two years.
Scammers may use email or phone calls about the Premera breach to trick consumers into sharing sensitive and financial information. Premera will not send emails about the data breach. Consider any email about the breach a scam. Do not click any links or open any attachments. Instead, delete the email. Premera will not be calling unexpectedly, either. If you receive an unsolicited phone call about the breach, hang up.
Data breaches leave consumers wide open to identity theft. You may be wondering about proactive steps to protect your identity. One option is a credit freeze, which restricts new credit inquiries, including the opening of new credit accounts in your name.
The Better Business Bureau encourages anyone thinking about a credit freeze to consider the following:
A credit freeze does not prevent thieves from making charges to your current accounts. So check your bank and credit card activities, carefully and regularly.
To set up an effective credit freeze, you will need to do so with all three credit bureaus. You can get more information for Equifax at www.freeze.equifax.com or (800) 525-6285, for Experian at www.experian.com/freeze/ or (888) 397-3742, and for TransUnion at freeze.transunion.com or (800) 680-7289.
Once you have a credit freeze established, you may need to temporarily lift it for a specific time period or for a specific party when you are opening a new credit account, seeking a loan, applying for a job or renting an apartment.
Unless you are a victim of identity theft or over the age of 65, the cost for creating or removing a credit freeze at each credit bureau is $10.
A credit freeze will not stop pre-screened offers of credit. You can opt out of pre-screened credit offers at www.optoutprescreen.com.
Your current creditors and debt collectors can still access your credit report.
If you want to learn more about identity theft and how to prevent it, you can visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
For local news and advice, visit your BBB’s News and Events webpage at www.bbb.org/eastern-washington/news-events/ or call (509) 455-4200.
By Erin T. Dodge, BBB editor