Beware of Equifax Alert Text Scams

We’ve all heard about the massive Equifax data breach of 2017 that impacted nearly 150 million Americans. In the years since, scammers have been taking advantage by sending fake alert texts pretending to be from Equifax. However, it’s important to know how to identify these scams and protect yourself from falling victim.

How do Equifax Alert Text Scams Work?

Equifax alert text scams lure victims in by pretending there is an issue with your Equifax credit report that needs immediate attention. Typically, the text will say something like:

“Urgent alert: We’ve detected suspicious activity on your Equifax credit file. Click here to log in and verify your info.”

⚠️ Warning: Equifax will NEVER contact you via text message. They don’t send unsolicited alerts like this.

The goal of the scammer is to get you to click the link, which leads to a fake Equifax login page asking for sensitive details like your Social Security number, date of birth, credit card numbers and more. They may also ask you to “verify” this info by texting it back or entering it on their fake form.

As soon as the scammers have your info, they can use it to open new lines of credit in your name, drain existing accounts, or sell your personal details on the dark web for someone else to misuse. Don’t take the bait – it’s definitely a scam.

How to Spot an Equifax Alert Text Scam

Knowing some common red flags can help you identify an Equifax alert text scam:

– Unsolicited/unexpected contact – Equifax will never text you out of the blue like this without reason.

– Sense of urgency – Scams try to provoke panic with “urgent alerts” to bypass skepticism.

– Spelling/grammar mistakes – Legit companies carefully proofread all communications.

– Requests for info – Equifax never asks for full Social Security number, DOB, credit cards etc via text.

– Generic greeting – A scam is more likely to say “dear customer” than address you by name.

– Suspicious links – Hover over texted links before clicking to check formatting/spelling is off.

With experience, you’ll get better at spotting imposter scams. Trust your gut if something seems off – it’s always okay to ignore/delete suspicious texts without engaging.

What Should You Do If You Get an Equifax Alert Text?

If you receive a text that looks like an Equifax alert scam, here are the recommended steps:

1. Do not click any links or reply with personal information.

2. Report the phone number and text contents to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov

3. If concerned your Equifax data may have been compromised, place a fraud alert by calling 1-888-766-0008.

4. Monitor your credit reports at all three bureaus for suspicious activity.

5. Consider credit monitoring services for extra visibility into your credit file.

6. Warn friends/family members about alert text scams impersonating Equifax or other companies.

Following these steps allows you to safely block scam texts and puts you in control of monitoring accounts should fraud occur down the road. Understanding how scams work is step one to avoiding becoming a victim.

Other Common Imposter Scams

Unfortunately, Equifax alert scams are not the only type of impersonation fraud circulating via text or phone calls. Here are a few other scams to watch out for:

Amazon Scams

📦 Pretend there’s a problem with an order or your account, and a refund is owed. Asks for payment info “on file” to process refund.

IRS Scams

😡 Claims you owe back taxes and to avoid legal trouble, pay immediately via gift cards or wiring money. The IRS will never call about payments like this.

Delivery Notification Scams

📦 Says a package was unable to be delivered and asks you to confirm account info or pay new “fees” before redelivery. Tracking numbers are spoofed.

Utility Scams

⚡ Threatens to disconnect service like power or cable unless an immediate overdue balance is paid online or over the phone using prepaid debit cards.

No matter the company being impersonated, approach all unsolicited calls/texts with extreme caution. No organization will ever use aggressive tactics or demand immediate sensitive info/payments over the phone/text. Stay vigilant against phone scams.

Top Tips for Avoiding Phone Scams

In summary, here are the top things you can do to help avoid phone scams and protect your personal information:

– Never share personal details like account numbers, birthdates or Social Security numbers via phone/text unless you initiated the contact.

– Use caution even if the number looks real. Scammers spoof legitimate numbers.

– Don’t respond to numbers you don’t recognize. Let unanswered calls go to voicemail.

– Hang up if callers ask you to pay with gift cards or money transfer services like Western Union.

– Verify unsolicited contacts by calling the number on the company’s official website or monthly statement.

– Enable call blocking/filtering on your mobile device where possible.

– Sign up for free scam prevention tools at ftc.gov and bestpracticeguides.com

– Warn loved ones, especially seniors who are often targets, via phone, mail or in person about common phone scams.

Staying a step ahead helps reduce risk of falling for imposter scams – but don’t feel bad if you’ve been targeted before. The best defense now is vigilance and education.