New Yorkers Beware of Equifax Hack Scams: AG

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman warned New Yorkers Monday to remain vigilant against possible hacking and phishing attempts by cybercriminals following the Equifax data breach.

Last week Equifax, one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies, experienced a massive breach affecting 143 million Americans and over 8 million New Yorkers. Hackers accessed names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. Approximately 209,000 individuals had their credit card numbers stolen.

“In addition to taking measures to protect their credit cards and bank accounts, New Yorkers should also think twice before clicking on any suspicious links claiming to be from Equifax or financial institutions,” Schneiderman said in an announcement. “Hackers are resourceful criminals who are constantly looking to exploit any vulnerabilities, and I encourage everyone to educate themselves about how to best protect their personal information.”

To check whether your information was compromised, you can go to a website set up by Equifax.

New Yorkers should be on the lookout for these possible attacks, the AG said:

• Phishing emails that claim to be from Equifax where you can check if your data was compromised.
• Phishing emails that claim there is a problem with a credit card, your credit record, or other personal financial information.
• Calls from scammers that claim they are from your bank or credit union.
• Fraudulent charges on any credit card because your identity was stolen.

Schneiderman has launched a formal investigation into the Equifax breach. He also offered consumers tips to take steps to protect their personal information following the hack.

SEE: Protect Yourself From Equifax Hack: NY AG

Furthermore, he led the outcry against the company's attempt to have anyone who checked the safety of their info waive the right to sue.

WATCH: Massive Data Breach At Equifax Leaves 143M At Risk

SEE ALSO:

• Equifax Leadership Dumped Stock Before Announcing Data Breach
• Equifax Data Breech: 'Nuclear Option' In Play For Consumers