Credit Bureau scams in Santa Clarita and throughout Los Angeles County have prompted officials from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to issue a warning about scammers posing as credit bureau company officials.

In the wake of several well-known Credit Bureau companies being affected by data breaches. scammers may have already started putting up fake websites meant to look like the official Equifax settlement claims website.

With these types of breaches, fake websites are popping up, making themselves look like legitimate credit bureau companies offering reimbursement for being a victim of a data breach.

But beware, these offers are fake, and readers may be at risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or scammed straight out of their money.

How this scam works:

• Advertisements are posted throughout social media instructing people to file a claim to get money for possibly being a victim of a data breach
• Once a person is convinced, they are directed to click onto a link that will instruct them to enter personal information.
• Once the personal information is entered, the scammers will have access to that information which can be used to open fraudulent bank accounts or credit cards.
• Once the claim has been submitted, the victim might get a response indicating they have not been a victim of a data breach.

There are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Anyone who receives an email, advertisement, or phone call advising that they may be a victim of a data breach, should not provide personal information until they verify the notification is legitimate.

One way to be sure that someone is going to the right site is by going directly to the actual credit bureau websites or calling the credit bureau directly.

Additionally, real beneficiaries never have to pay to file a claim for these benefits. And anyone who calls and tries to get someone else to file a claim is almost certainly a scammer.

Ed. Note: This information provided to KHTS by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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