Plan B Forum

You may be entitled to certain benefits or cash if you're on the list of Equifax data breach victims.

You can check here.

Sure, I’m going to input my name and SS info into a web site. Duh. Pass.

You should read the info at the link I gave. You don’t need to enter your name and SSN. Just the last 6 digits of your SSN to find out if your info was possibly compromised by Equifax. You don’t give your SSN to file a claim either. I was alerted a long time ago so I already know I’m eligible for compensation.

Trust me. I’m white like you.

You should go back where you came from, Joe...

I'm surrounded by racists here at Plan B. Besides, if I moved back to where I lived as a child, it's now a crime-infested area populated by minorities - the Bayview District. Why would I want to live there?

Yes, the last 6 digits. Enough to be identifying.

You don't give your name.

Last name.

I'm beginning to think that you're not interested in using the internet tool that has been provided. It's just a funny feeling I'm getting after reading what you've written. Call it what you will but I think of it as a sixth sense that I've developed.

Well, I'm not going to bother looking into it because according to the link, "Please note that none of these benefits will be distributed or available until the settlement is finally approved by the Court."  According to another site I visited, that means it could be a couple of years down the road before you or I or anyone else (besides the lawyers) ever see nickel one.
Ain't worth it.

-"BB"-

The website I linked is run by the "Settlement Administrator" and it says it could take "several months or more". I suppose older people might not be looking that far into the future but there are some people here who have a few years left.

Anyway, I'm glad I posted the link for everybody. I'm enjoying all of the positive feedback.

Great piece that supportable Joe’s sharing the link:

https://slate.com/technology/2019/07/eq ... 1QKrf7n9Q4

I can’t sneeze at $125, plus my identity is not worth stealing - I’ll be fulfilling my moral duty and collecting my cash. (I too received an email notification months ago.)

I saw the same link on the DOJ site a while back. I figured the data I shared was "common knowledge," at least to those requesting it. I don't think I've been hacked nor breached since filling out the form.

Besides, the dark web would be very disappointed with the quality and quantity of my data.

I have no knowledge of how secure this site is, but I recall a number of years ago reading that the first 3 digits of an SSN were indicative of where it was issued; getting the last 6 digits and a name (albeit a last name) I wouldn't be surprised if a potential identity thief could fairly easily use the information to generate a full name and SSN. I may well be legitimate, but I am still pretty suspicious.

The Massachusetts Attorney General has sued on behalf of the residents of Massachusetts (although I don't know if any settlement will go to individuals, or to the state generally - I'm betting the state). In any event, her webpage and Press Release on this direct individuals to the same link, so I believe it is legit.

That was never my issue though - it was more along the lines of -- why submit that information again to an entity already proven not to be able to manage it correctly? For the reasons BigRR listed - 6 digits plus birthplace is enough to generate a full SS#.

Credit applications and credit bureaus here will ask for a social insurance number (our equivalent of SSN) but cannot require that we provide it, and have other ways of processing credit applications and pulling up our credit information if we do not. I would imagine that the same applies in the U.S., and that any attorney representing the class should be able to register you in the class and get whatever info is required from Equifax without requiring you to divulge it to them.

In the US, the SSN seems to be a prerequsiste fir almost everything, from credit checks to obtaining medical service. You can probably refuse, but in most cases the services will then not be provided.