Change Your Password Now!
Equifax suggests three simple ID protection steps for eBay users
‘Change your password’ is eBay’s advice for its customers, after a cyber-attack has compromised the accounts of millions of users of the online marketplace. But it’s not just the password on eBay. ID fraud expert, Equifax, is urging UK consumers to be diligent in case they use the same password for eBay as some of their other online accounts; hackers may well try to access email or even bank accounts using details gained from the eBay breach and trying a customer’s eBay password.
“The eBay breach has seen hackers gain access to personal information such as emails, passwords, home addresses and even date of birth,” explains Andrew Webb, Sales & Marketing Director of Equifax Personal Solutions.
“This information can be enough for fraudsters to steal an individual’s identity and even gain access to other accounts by resetting passwords. So it’s essential that consumers change their password immediately on any accounts that use the same password as their eBay account. Even if customers haven’t used eBay recently, if the password they set up is the same as for any other accounts they could be putting themselves at risk.”
Another important step Equifax believes will help reduce the risk of eBay users falling victim to cyber fraudsters is to update their password on PayPal too, also an eBay company. And finally, a third tip is to step up monitoring via one of the three credit reference agencies so that if fraudsters do succeed in setting up new accounts these can be shut down as quickly as possible. From bank and credit card accounts to credit information, eBay customers should pay close attention to all transactions and activity for anything unauthorised.
“Sadly fraudsters need very little personal information to gain access to highly personalised data; social media sites in particular can be especially vulnerable depending on the degree of privacy you have on your settings” added Andrew Webb. “With just three pieces of personal data, fraudsters can steal an identity and leave an individual picking up the bill. But by taking simple precautions, consumers can stay safe online.
Consumers can monitor their credit report for any changes to accounts or new accounts they didn’t authorise, and Equifax WebDetect can help them protect their personal information online. The 24/7 ID monitoring solution helps keep consumers one step ahead of fraudsters by alerting them to potential unauthorised trading of their personal information. WebDetect is free for customers purchasing their Equifax Credit Report or Credit Score.
The Equifax Credit Report is accessible for 30 days free simply by logging onto www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/credit-score.html. If customers do not cancel before the end of the 30 Day Free Trial, the service will continue at £14.95 per month, giving them unlimited online access to their credit information and weekly alerts on any changes to their credit file. It also includes an online dispute facility to help them correct any errors on their credit file simply and quickly.
ENDS
For further press information, please contact: Clare Watson, Cecile Stearn, Parm Heer or Wendy Harrison at HSL on 020 8977 9132 / Fax: 020 8977 5200 or email: equifaxbtocteam@harrisonsadler.com
About Equifax
Equifax is a global leader in consumer, commercial and workforce information solutions that provide businesses of all sizes and consumers with insight and information they can trust. Equifax organizes and assimilates data on more than 600 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide. The company’s significant investments in differentiated data, its expertise in advanced analytics to explore and develop new multi-source data solutions, and its leading-edge proprietary technology enable it to create and deliver unparalleled customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Equifax operates or has investments in 18 countries and is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500® Index. Its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EFX. In 2013, Equifax was named a Bloomberg BusinessWeek Top 50 company, was #3 in Fortune's Most Admired list in its category, and was named to InfoWeek 500 as well as the FinTech 100. For more information, please visit www.equifax.com.
Equifax Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.