Florida ranks top 5 for most dangerous places to online date; FGCU students reactCape Coral commissioners set to discuss possibility of pay raises
FILE – This July 21, 2012, file photo shows signage at the corporate headquarters of Equifax Inc., in Atlanta. Equifax will pay up to $700 million to settle with the Federal Trade Commission and others over a 2017 data breach that exposed Social Security numbers and other private information of nearly 150 million people. The proposed settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, if approved by the federal district court Northern District of Georgia, will provide up to $425 million in monetary relief to consumers, a $100 million civil money penalty, and other relief. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File) Florida’s Attorney General Ashley Moody this week is issuing a Consumer Alert about scams targeting victims of the Equifax data breach the largest credit-reporting data breach ever affecting more than half of the adults in the country. Moody said, following a multistate investigation, “my office entered into an historic 600-million-dollar settlement over failed security measures that exposed the personal information of millions. Our settlement requires Equifax to pay victims through a claims process.” A website is in place to expedite claims but already are already trying exploit the process. LINK: Official website for filing an Equifax data breach settlement claim The state attorney’s office says they are sending phishing emails to drive targets to a fake claims page. The page asks for Social Security Numbers and other personal data. Don’t fall for it. To file a claim, go directly to equifaxbreachsettlement.com. This site will allow you to file online or download a form to file through the mail. Here are some more tips to help you avoid the Equifax Phishing Scam: File now. By going directly to the website and taking action now, you are less susceptible to any future claims scams. The claims process is free, so be wary of any site requiring a filing fee. Finally, don’t respond to any messages or click on any links directing you to a claims website. For more tips, visit MyFloridaLegal.com.