Bay Scoggin
TexPIRG
AUSTIN– A new federal law eliminates fees for getting and removing credit freezes in Texas and across the country at the three nationwide credit bureaus on September 21st. The consumer advocacy group TexPIRG recommends getting credit freezes, not the similar locks offered by the bureaus, to prevent new account identity theft.
In 2003, TexPIRG led the effort in the Texas legislature to pass one of the nation’s first laws creating security freezes. However, the law required consumers to pay $10 per freeze per credit bureau, for a total of $30. In the 2017 Equifax data breach, Attorney General Ken Paxton says that 12 million Texans had their information stolen.
“It’s about time the credit bureaus stopped charging us for the right to control our own information. We didn’t give them permission to collect or sell our information in the first place,” said Bay Scoggin, TexPIRG’s State Director
TexPIRG points out the following consumer tips about credit freezes:
In addition to recommending credit freezes, TexPIRG offers tips, explained further in its recent report to help consumers prevent and detect other types of identity theft and fraud:
● Existing Account Fraud: Check your monthly credit card and bank statements.
● Tax Refund Fraud: File your taxes as soon as possible, before thieves do. Also, if you qualify, get an Identity Protection (IP) PIN.
● Social Security Benefits Fraud: Sign up for your “my Social Security” (MySSA) account before thieves claim it and change your direct deposit info to route into their checking accounts.
● Health Care Services / Medical Benefits Fraud: Sign up for online accounts with your health care and insurance providers to periodically check for any fraudulent services on your statements.
● Other Fraudulent Activity: Check your free annual consumer reports with companies that specialize in collecting information often misused by criminals.
● Phishing Scams: Ignore requests for personal information by email, links, phone calls, etc.
“The threat of identity theft is unfortunately all too real. But you can take steps to prevent and detect different types,” said Scoggin. “Start with credit freezes if you don’t have them already. You should get your free credit freezes today, because each day that goes by is another day an identity thief could open accounts and rack up a ton of debt in your name.”
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The Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG) Education Fund is an independent, non-partisan group that works for consumers and the public interest. Through research, public education and outreach, we serve as counterweights to the influence of powerful special interests that threaten our health, safety, or well-being.