Consumer complaint received 2023-02-10
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: WA
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with fraud alerts or security freezes

Complaint:
my fXXXX XXXX  recieved a hacked message on XX/XX/2023 the next day my XXXX  sent the same hackers message to at least XXXX others on my messenger and at least XXXX that wasn't. the hackers then pretended to be me and left a comment on a post i made about being hacked and some stupid lady asking for XXXX dollars to regain access to my XXXX account that i then refused. she/it then stated he was goint to get me in trouble with the government and i replied no, they will look at me funny but i wont be the one getting into trouble. the hackers then kicked me out of my cell phone for an hour and when i was let back in they showed me that they had the camera up along with syncing my files. i had all my passwords to work, bank, bills, medical, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX information. afther fighting to gain control of my phone, the XXXX guy fought to gain control of a password and we wiped it clean, XXXX times. in doing so everything that was secured with XXXX was then exposed. hacker showed me that they hacked into my XXXX XXXX account that i inherited from my XXXX XXXX as they removed my XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX account to my XXXX XXXX  account. i think his was a XXXX email but i am not certain as i do not have any access to anything from either phone. i was then locked out of my phone and could not regain access as they changed my passwords and removed my name. i got a new cell and number but while i was securing that they locked me again for the first time for 24hrs. i attempted to contact the three credit bureaus as the sherriff and my bank suggested. the first was Equifax. there is a XXXX step verification method. the hackers already had the front of my drivers license as i had to use it for my immunization records to get an appointment online. the hackers had already flashed my gallery picture of the front of the Drivers id. when i tried to verify myself with Equifax they sent me a link and i clicked start so they could get a photo of the front of my licesense. while it was thinking i densely gave the me back of my license and complained about that. when i went to click the third, a selfie. there was no start button to push. the guy sent me another link so i again took a picture of the front and when i opened the second for the back. there was no start button so that told me they now had someone's picture there with the back of my license and could put a fake id to the first. i called XXXX and they put a freeze right away, i didn't have to verify myself but withXXXX their online service was not working. i again contacted Equifax and asked if the information was deleted and she stated it was deleted each time. so she sent me a link and i clicked each step and again step XXXX and step XXXX were already filled in.wheni complained to her and informed her her site was compromised she just kinda hmmmd at me as if yeah whatever. she did nothing to report it nor fix it but did ask me for my XXXX or last years income tax refund and i simply refused. i was not going to give someone any more then they already took. i called back a few days later on all three and apparently there was some major issues with my name and social secutity number. i had to open an account on each credit bureaus web site where as the first one kicked me out before completion and when i got back in, none of the questions pertained to me and i could not verify myself, i created another account at each credit bureau and i didn't get kicked out i just didn't have access to any of them as somehow and someway all the other information had changed and again i could not verify myself. i have yet to gather my paperwork and contact them via mail but i am not in any hury as i do not trust any of the online sites i had and have access to including phone numbers. i had called the sherriffs office that friday or saturday as the hackers had kicked me out for 2hrs and the " deputy '' i talked to asked if they took any money and because they didn't he wasn't going to do anything. the second time i called, later in the week, " deputy '' said he wasn't going to write a report for me having problems with my phone. i did go and talk with the sherriffs department but all i received was a card and the three credit burea names. when i had to call the sherriff on the number of the card the 'dispatcher ' stated XXXXXXXX what is your emergency. well, it was a XXXX # # # XXXX Non emergency number that i have called in the past and they do not ask what is your emergency. i asked if XXXX was there and she wanted to know XXXX who. i didn't give her his last name and she again stated this was XXXX i asked for what and she stated for XXXX XXXX and i asked.. for Emergencies and she stated yes. so i informed her she was at the wrong number and hung up. i honestly do not think i was talking with the sherriffs office nor it's officers and i again when to the sherriff in person and informed them about that phone call and again, nothing. he stated their hands were tied and yes out of their juristiction. some days later i wanted to call inform XXXX of some other issues and called the XXXX number where she answered it appropeatly and after a few moments of talking she gave me a case number. but i left that at home, i do not have any online email address that were not compromised. and i did get an XXXX but i didn/t bring that information with me so i had to use my work address. my email addresses that were hijacked from me were XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX and i think my outlook email along with a freddi something at XXXX. i do not think they got any of my husbands information as we have been seperated for over 20 years.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation