Hacker News Reader

Comment by doctoboggan | Hacker News Reader

A few weeks ago I started receiving notices that my SSN was detected online by the identity monitoring company I use. I guess this is the source of that.

Around a year ago my identity was stolen (new CCs opened in my name). At that time I froze my credit on all 3 of the agencies. It's easy to turn it off/on with a switch so I have left it frozen. Its a good feeling knowing that no one can open a new CC in my name.

View on HN

Have been reluctant to use the nuclear option of freezing my credit, but since it’s likely my name, social security, and address are available from at least 1 or cross referenced between leaked and OSINT sources. It would make it trivial to open new lines of credit.

So time to freeze:

- experian

- TransUnion

- equifax

- Chexsystems

Am I missing anything else?

I only did the top 3, haven't heard of "Chexsystems" before.

I had mine frozen and after a few years they seemed to forget my keys to unfreeze it. I use a password manager so maybe I messed it up, but it is very fragile.

Another credit bureau says I don’t exist despite dozens of credit cards, 4 mortgages, and student debt. They need me to fax a copy of my license to prove I’m a real person.

and a state license is very easy spoof/fake especially over lossy formats like email/fax

What service are you using that provides a single "switch" for all 3 agencies?

Unfortunately, you have to make accounts on each agency. You need to find the way to "freeze" on each site. They will try to sell you a "lock" option, but the "freeze" option is free (federally mandated).

That may stop someone from opening a CC in your name, but not someone impersonating you to get a driver's license or sign up for government benefits or rent an apartment (not all of them run a credit check).

Reply on news.ycombinator.com