Nearly half of Tennessee residents affected by Equifax breach, attorney general says


              FILE - This July 21, 2012, file photo shows Equifax Inc., offices in Atlanta. On Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, Equifax said it has made changes to address customer complaints since it disclosed a week earlier that it exposed vital data on about 143 million Americans. Equifax has come under fire from members of Congress, state attorneys general, and people who are getting conflicting answers about whether their information was stolen. Equifax is trying again to clarify language about people’s right to sue, and said Monday it has made changes to address customer complaints. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
FILE - This July 21, 2012, file photo shows Equifax Inc., offices in Atlanta. On Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, Equifax said it has made changes to address customer complaints since it disclosed a week earlier that it exposed vital data on about 143 million Americans. Equifax has come under fire from members of Congress, state attorneys general, and people who are getting conflicting answers about whether their information was stolen. Equifax is trying again to clarify language about people’s right to sue, and said Monday it has made changes to address customer complaints. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

More than 3 million Tennessee residents had personal information stolen through the hacking of credit reporting firm Equifax, leaving them exposed to identity theft and financial loss, according to Attorney General Herbert Slatery's office.

In a letter to Equifax, Slatery pointed to the frustration many consumers have experienced when trying to reach the company, describing long wait times and uninformed employees. He encouraged Equifax to emphasize that its credit monitoring services are free so residents are not confused about costs.

"It is distressing that this massive breach leaves consumers exposed to financial and other harm," Slatery said in a press statement. "Consumers need to be vigilant about regularly monitoring their financial accounts and credit reports, and Equifax must actively assist consumers in those efforts."

Read more at our news partner's website, tennessean.com.

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