Consumer complaint received 2024-06-25
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (MD)

Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), I, XXXX XXXX ( XXXX : XXXX, XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ), am filing this complaint to request that Equifax , a credit reporting agency, block information appearing on my consumer credit report that is the result of identity theft and fraud within four business days of receiving this complaint, pursuant to FCRA 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ).

The fraudulent, inaccurate, and false information consists of the following : 1. An auto loan account opened at XXXX under the account number XXXX. 
2. A personal loan opened at XXXX XXXX XXXX, account number XXXX. 
3. A personal loan account opened at XXXX XXXX XXXX  under the account number XXXX. 

These accounts have resulted in several fraudulent hard inquiries and collections appearing on my consumer FICO credit report. I have attached a list of the hard inquiries in question, as well as a copy of the consumer FICO credit report maintained by Equifax, which shows the aforementioned fraudulent items.

I do not recognize the aforementioned accounts, collections, or hard inquiries as reported. The accounts, collections, and hard inquiries appearing on my consumer report maintained by Equifax were not opened, made, or initiated by me. All of the aforementioned items are the result of identity theft and fraud. 

Furthermore, I have received notices from the Office of Personnel Management ( OPM ), XXXX, and Equifax informing me that I was a part of their respective data breaches. These data breaches have likely contributed to the identity theft and fraudulent activities affecting my credit report. 

Specifically, the XXXX data breach notification dated XX/XX/XXXX ( Registration Number : XXXX ) informed me that on XX/XX/XXXX, a cyber attacker gained unauthorized access to portions of the XXXX network that stored personal information of approximately XXXX XXXX individuals nationwide who had applied for services offered by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX . The compromised information included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, government identification numbers, and related information used in XXXX XXXX assessment of consumers ' credit histories. 

Additionally, the Department of Commerce issued an advisory on XX/XX/XXXX, raising awareness about the Equifax data breach. Equifax reported that hackers had gained access to the credit histories and personal information of XXXX XXXX Americans, with the breach beginning in XX/XX/XXXX and continuing until it was discovered in late XX/XX/XXXX. 

These data breaches demonstrate a clear violation of my rights as a consumer and have directly contributed to the identity theft and fraudulent activities appearing on my credit report. Equifax has failed to protect my personal information and has not taken adequate measures to prevent such incidents from occurring.

I have attached a copy of my FTC identity theft criminal complaint # XXXX and proof from the US Federal Trade Commission that all the aforementioned consumer credit accounts, collections, and hard inquiries are the result of identity theft and fraud.

I request that Equifax promptly investigate and remove these fraudulent items from my credit report within the stipulated timeframe, as required by law. Additionally, I request that an updated copy of my credit report be mailed to me at the following address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX MD XXXX