CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR TAX & FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS

Equifax Data Breach Takes Immediate Action September 11, 2017

There has been a massive data breach at Equifax, one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies. 143 million individuals are at risk for identity theft. Hackers accessed people’s names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. They also stole credit card numbers for 209,000 people.

To protect yourself and your client, go to https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com to determine if your data was breached and to sign up for credit file monitoring and identity theft protection. The offering, called TrustedID Premier, includes 3-Bureau credit monitoring of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports; copies of Equifax credit reports; the ability to lock and unlock Equifax credit reports; identity theft insurance; and internet scanning for Social Security numbers – all paid by Equifax for one year. 

Sample Client Letter

Dear Client,

We are all at risk of identity theft because of a major data breach at Equifax, one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies. Hackers stole names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, driver’s license numbers and credit card numbers for millions of Equifax’s customers.

Because of the breach, Equifax will provide you “TrustedID Premier”, which includes 3-Bureau credit monitoring of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports; copies of Equifax credit reports; the ability to lock and unlock Equifax credit reports; identity theft insurance; and internet scanning for Social Security numbers. 

To find out if your data was breached and to enroll in TrustedID go to https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com.

Sharon Kreider, CPA, has helped more than 15,000 California tax preparers annually get ready for tax season. She also presents regularly for the AICPA, the California Society of Enrolled Agents, CCH Audio, and Western CPE. You’ll benefit from the detailed, hands-on tax knowledge Sharon will share with you—knowledge she gained through her extremely busy, high-income tax practice in Silicon Valley. With her dynamic presentation style, Sharon will demystify complex individual and business tax legislation. She’s a national lecturer for business and professional groups and consistently receives outstanding evaluations. In 2014, she was awarded the prestigious AICPA 2014 Sidney Kess Award for Excellence in Continuing Education.

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