![\"Credit](\"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Credit-Score-Excellent-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"Credit")
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You may think an identity theft hacker may not notice you. That\u2019s not true. The ways identity thieves pick their targets are more about accessibility. They don\u2019t care about your financial situation. Cybercriminals look for weak spots in personal financial security and privacy they can exploit for profit.\u00a0 Too often, the way we find we\u2019ve been financially hacked is when\u00a0credit report errors\u00a0are revealed. It\u2019s never at a good time, either. Most often it occurs when we\u2019re about to seek credit for a home mortgage, car or personal loan.<\/p>\n
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Social media is one of the main sources for cybercriminals looking for identity theft victims. Most of us became at-home workers or unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
At-home boredom led to more online communications and social media use than usual. The economic crisis resulting from so much unemployment also led to increased activity among cybercriminals. The two factors became a powder keg for unsuspecting social media users.<\/p>\n
The original \u201chack\u201d may be your personal data. Hackers can use it or sell it to identity thieves. It\u2019s available on government websites and even \u201csecure\u201d websites, like Equifax\u00ae. In 2017, hackers accessed the personal information of more than 147 million Americans in the Equifax database.<\/p>\n
The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) later leveraged a $700 million fine, but the consequences were more far-reaching. Americans don\u2019t know who to trust with personal information. The Cloud only added to the confusion.<\/p>\n
Develop strong passwords. Although it’s important to develop passwords that are easy to remember, follow these guidelines:<\/p>\n
Other ideas include:<\/p>\n
You are entitled to check your credit report<\/a> every 12 months for free. Late payments, bankruptcy, bills turned in for collection\u2026 These can harm your credit for years. More important, make sure your credit report is accurate and errors are corrected immediately.<\/p>\n There are 3 steps to checking your credit report:<\/p>\n Common credit report errors include:<\/p>\n If you encounter a credit reporting problem, don\u2019t wait to resolve it. Flitter Milz, P.C. is a national authority in consumer protection law. We offer a free evaluation of your credit report problem<\/a> and can discuss effective ways to dispute with the credit bureaus. Contact our team today to find a fast and affordable resolution.<\/p>\n The risk of identity theft is higher during economic downturns, but your diligence can protect your financial security. Call 866.259.0326 or contact<\/a> us to learn more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You may think an identity theft hacker may not notice you. That\u2019s not true. The ways identity thieves pick their targets are more about accessibility. They don\u2019t care about your financial situation. Cybercriminals look for weak spots in personal financial security and privacy they can exploit for profit.\u00a0 Too often, the way we find we\u2019ve … <\/p>\n\n
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How to Correct a Credit Report Error<\/h2>\n