An estimated 143 million Americans may have been affected by the Equifax breach. Equifax is one of the three credit bureaus responsible for compiling and analyzing the financial information of American consumers. Hackers stole Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, birth dates, financial purchases and other important information. With this information, hackers could commit identity theft on a massive scale. Depending on the information stolen from you, other people could make large purchases or sign loans in your name. For example, a person with your stolen information could sign a lease for vehicle or take out a line of credit without your permission. They could also access your existing accounts. Fortunately, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced tips that you and millions of other American consumers can use to avoid identity theft. These tips include: Placing a credit freeze: You can place a temporary freeze on your credit…
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