Data breach - Mom's info, etc.

[Anonymous]

Mom just got a notice that her SSN and address, birthday, etc. were all exposed in a data breach. (I feel like I've gotten several of these notices myself lately.) She's very concerned. What are the best steps to take to make sure her personal info/credit/bank info is relatively secure--or that she feels more secure? I'm thinking a credit freeze and maybe paying a company to take some of her info down? Would be grateful for any recommendations or advice.

[Anonymous]

First, call the institutions directly. Do not trust links in an email in case this is related to the scam going around targeting elderly people.

Put a credit freeze as well.

[Anonymous]

She’s fine, honestly. Your SSN is not a secret code and trust that it’s already out there. Data breaches aren’t the big risk to your mom. I think those required notifications were probably pushed through by people who sell “identity protection” stuff.

I would use the fear to help drive home scam protection rules. My goal for my own parents is for them to have a list of main switchboard phone numbers - the bank, the police, the FBI, their lawyer, etc. The rule should be that you NEVER take incoming calls from any such institution. You get their name and call them back on one of the numbers from the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She’s fine, honestly. Your SSN is not a secret code and trust that it’s already out there. Data breaches aren’t the big risk to your mom. I think those required notifications were probably pushed through by people who sell “identity protection” stuff.

I would use the fear to help drive home scam protection rules. My goal for my own parents is for them to have a list of main switchboard phone numbers - the bank, the police, the FBI, their lawyer, etc. The rule should be that you NEVER take incoming calls from any such institution. You get their name and call them back on one of the numbers from the list.

+1