Carlinville CPA Group, Ltd. experienced a data security incident on April 12, 2023. We take the privacy and security of all information in our possession very seriously. If you were impacted by this data breach, you would have been contacted by our firm. If you were not contacted, your data was not compromised and there is no action you need to take.
If you were impacted…
We recommend placing a free fraud alert on your credit file as soon as possible. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before they open any new accounts or change your existing accounts. Contact any one of the three major credit bureaus (once one bureau confirms your fraud alert, the others are notified to place the alerts as well). The initial fraud alert stays on your credit report for one year. You can renew it after one year.
We also recommend placing a free credit freeze. A credit freeze means potential creditors cannot get your credit report, which makes it less likely that an identity thief can open new accounts in your name. For a freeze you will need to contact each of the major credit bureaus. A freeze remains in place until you ask the bureaus to temporarily life it or remove it. If you have children listed as dependents on your return, request a free credit freeze for your children as well.
We recommend asking each credit bureau to send you a free credit report after it places a fraud alert/freeze on your file. Review your credit reports for accounts and inquiries you don’t recognize. These can be signs of identity theft. If your personal information has been misused, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website at IdentityTheft.gov to report the identity theft and get recovery steps. If you do not find suspicious activity on your initial reports, the FTC recommends your check your credit reports periodically.
Credit Bureau Contact Information:
Equifax: Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services or 1-800-685-111
Experian: Experian.com/help or 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-help or 1-888-909-8872
If your bank account information was compromised, review your transactions regularly. If you find fraudulent charges or withdrawals, call the fraud department and get them removed. Check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.
Below is information from the FTC’s website, IdentityTheft.gov/databreach, about steps you can take to help protect yourself and your dependents from identity theft.
Below is a comprehensive guide from the FTC to help address identify theft, Identity Theft: A Recovery Plan.
The most recent letter you received includes an enrollment code for complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services through IDX, a data breach and recovery services expert. IDX services include the following: 12 months of credit and CyberScan monitoring, fully managed identity recovery services, and $1 million insurance reimbursement policy. If you have dependents listed on your tax return, their letter will include separate enrollment instructions. We highly recommend you take advantage of this service. If you have misplaced the letter or have any questions, please call our office for assistance.