Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a Consumer Alert warning Floridians about scammers attempting to steal consumer information using fake Equifax claims webpages.
Fraudsters are sending phishing-emails that impersonate Equifax encouraging consumers to enter personal information on a webpage that looks like the Equifax claims page.
Last month, Attorney General Moody, along with 49 other attorneys general, announced an historic $600 million settlement with Equifax over failed security measures in a massive data breach that affected millions of Floridians.
The agreement includes a Consumer Restitution Fund of up to $425 million, a $175 million payment to the states and injunctive relief.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Online bad guys are trying to make a bad situation worse for millions of Americans whose personal information was exposed in the Equifax data breach.
Scammers have set up fake claims sites and are sending phishing emails to drive consumers to their sites in an attempt to exploit victims of the Equifax data breach. This is a truly despicable scam.
To file a claim, go directly to the Equifax claim page.”
Tips for steering clear of phishing attacks related to the Equifax data breach:
· Visit the official website to file a claim: EquifaxBreachSettlement.com;
· File your Equifax claim now on the official website.
· By filing now, you reduce the risk of falling for any future Equifax claims scam;
· Be aware that any website requesting a full SSN, requiring payment to file a claim or guaranteeing an exact settlement amount is likely the work of a scammer; and
· Remember that the claims process is underway, and the deadline to file a claim is Jan. 22, 2020.
Additionally, know that the deadline to object to, comment on or to be excluded from the settlement is Nov. 19, 2019. ■
Predominant upper-level ridging stretching from the Southwest to the southern High Plains will allow for another day of record-breaking heat across parts of Nevada and Arizona today.