Fidelity Investments Data Breach Affects Thousands – Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Fidelity Data Breach Impacts Over 77,000 Customers
In August of this year, thousands of Fidelity Investments customers may have had their personal information stolen during a significant data breach. The breach occurred between August 17–19, with Fidelity discovering the unauthorized access on August 19.
According to a spokesperson from Fidelity, the company immediately cut off the third party responsible for the breach and launched a thorough investigation with the help of external cybersecurity experts. Although the hackers did not purportedly gain access to any funds or customer accounts, Fidelity has not disclosed which specific personal information was compromised, such as name, social, date of birth, account number, etc.
The data breach affected a total of 77,099 Fidelity customers, as confirmed by an attorney representing Fidelity to the Office of the Maine Attorney General. Fidelity says it plans to notify affected individuals via mail and will offer them two years of free credit monitoring services to help protect against any potential identity theft or fraudulent activity. Have you received notice of the Fidelity data breach? We may be able to help. Keep reading.
Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
While Fidelity is providing monitoring services, it’s crucial for all individuals to take proactive steps in safeguarding their personal information. Identity theft can have long-term consequences, from damaging your credit score to causing legal complications. What can data breach victims do to protect their identities?
Key steps data breach victims can take?
1. Monitor Bank and Credit Card Accounts: Regularly check bank and credit card statements and credit card activity for unauthorized transactions. Fraudulent transactions are a red flag that the identity theft victim’s financial account has been compromised and possibly because of the data breach.
2. Add a Fraud Alert to Your Credit Report: You can place fraud alerts on your credit reports to notify potential creditors of suspicious activity.
3. Add a Credit Freeze: A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name without your consent. Learn more about adding a freeze to your credit reports from The Adkins Firm.
4. Be Aware of Phishing Scams: Be cautious of unsolicited emails or calls asking for personal information, especially if they claim to be from financial institutions. Often, scammers begin to send data breach victims phishing emails that may look legit, but include malware, which can be used to obtain victims’ passwords, emails and personal identifying information. The fraudsters can then use this information to commit additional crimes, such as applying for credit in the victim’s name or access bank accounts.
What is Fidelity Saying about the Data Breach?
Fidelity is urging affected customers to stay vigilant and monitor their accounts for any signs of fraudulent activity. If you suspect that your information has been compromised, then you can report any suspicious activity to Fidelity immediately. Customers with questions can reach Fidelity’s support team at 1-844-528-1265, Monday through Friday.
Need Help with ID Theft?
If you believe your personal information has been compromised or you’re concerned about identity theft, our Fair Credit Reporting Act lawyers can help victims clear their name. The Adkins Firm offers comprehensive solutions to secure your personal data, restore your identity, and monitor for fraudulent activity.
Has your identity been stolen? Do you have fraudulent information on your credit reports due to fraud? Have you disputed the fraudulent information to the credit bureaus and the credit reporting agencies verified the fraudulent information is accurate? If you answered yes, then you may have claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). We help victims of ID theft.
Contact us today or chat with us live to let us know how you have been harmed as a victim of identity theft. Our FCRA lawyers may be able to help you clear your name, too. We do not charge a fee unless our client recovers money damages from the defendant. Remember, it’s your credit report!