Frequently Asked Questions
What happened? When did it happen?
On October 15, 2009, The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies discovered that a recruiter’s laptop containing personally identifiable information was stolen from a locked facility.
What specific types of my personal information were involved?
The laptop contained personal information, such as name and Social Security number, provided by students that applied to study abroad with The Beijing Center.
Why does The Beijing Center have my personal information?
The information on the laptop was provided by students as part of the application to study abroad with The Beijing Center.
What have you done about the breach? How will you prevent this from happening in the future?
The Beijing Center reported the theft to law enforcement and sent letters directly to those individuals that are potentially affected by the incident informing them. The Beijing Center also has implemented additional security measures designed to prevent a recurrence of such an event and to protect the privacy of students that apply to study abroad with The Beijing Center.
How will I know if I’m affected? What if I did not receive a letter?
The Beijing Center sent letters to students who were potentially affected using the most recent address maintained by The Beijing Center and commercial address matching services, to the extent an address was available. If you previously applied to study abroad with The Beijing Center but did not receive a letter from us regarding the incident, or if you would like additional information about this incident, you may contact The Beijing Center toll-free at 1-877-TBC-5969.
Does this mean that I’m a victim of identity theft?
No. The fact that someone may have obtained a laptop that contained your personal information does not mean that you are a victim of identity theft, or that the personal information will be accessed or used improperly. We wanted to let you know about the incident so that, out of an abundance of caution, you can take appropriate steps to protect yourself, such as by reviewing your credit report closely for unauthorized activity, and reporting any unauthorized activity to law enforcement, a credit bureau, and your credit card company, if applicable. You may also wish to consider placing a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit files.
How will I know if any of my personal information was used by someone else?
You can take appropriate steps to protect yourself by reviewing your credit report closely for unauthorized activity, and reporting any unauthorized activity to law enforcement, a credit bureau, and the credit card company, if applicable.
Do I have to pay for the credit report?
No. You can order your credit reports from all three credit bureaus for free once a year. You can do this online at www.annualcreditreport.com, or by phone at 1-877-322-8228.
Additionally, The Beijing Center has arranged with Experian Consumer Direct to provide affected students with free credit monitoring for one year if the student enrolls within 90 days of receiving the letter. Please refer to your letter for details and enrollment instructions.
How long does it take to receive my credit reports?
You can view your reports online if you order them at www.annualcreditreport.com. If you order by phone, you should receive the reports by mail in five to ten days.
What should I look for on my credit report?
Look for any accounts that you don’t recognize, especially recently opened accounts. Look at the inquiries or requests section for names of creditors from whom you haven’t requested credit. Look in the personal information section for addresses where you’ve never lived. Any of these things might be indications of fraud. Also be on the alert for other possible signs of identity theft, such as calls from creditors or debt collectors about bills that you don’t recognize or unusual charges.
Note that some kinds of inquiries, labeled something like “promotional inquiries,” are for unsolicited offers of credit, mostly from companies with whom you do business. Don’t be concerned about those inquiries as a sign of fraud. (you are automatically removed from lists to receive unsolicited pre-approved credit offers when you put a fraud alert on your account. You can also stop those offers by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT.)
What steps can I take to further protect my information?
As a precautionary measure, we recommend that consumers review their account statements and credit reports closely. If you detect any suspicious activity on an account, you should promptly notify the financial institution or company with which the account is maintained. You also should promptly report any fraudulent activity or any suspected incidence of identity theft to proper law enforcement authorities, your state attorney general, or the Federal Trade Commission.
In addition, you may wish to review the tips provided by the Federal Trade Commission on how to avoid identity theft. For more information, please visit http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338). Maryland residents may also wish to review information provided by the Maryland Attorney General on how to avoid identity theft at http://www.oag.state.md.us/idtheft, or by sending an email to idtheft@oag.state.md.us, or calling 410-576-6491.
How often should I order new credit reports and how long should I continue ordering them?
We recommend checking your credit reports at least twice a year as a general privacy protection measure. In the short term, you may want to review them more frequently, such as every three months.
Should I place a fraud alert on my credit report? How can I do that?
You may consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report. This fraud alert statement informs creditors to possible fraudulent activity within your report and requests that the creditor contact you prior to establishing any accounts in your name. To place a fraud alert on your credit report, call any one of the three credit bureaus at the numbers provided below and follow the “Fraud Victim” instructions. The one you call will notify the others to place the alert. When you call the credit bureau fraud line, you will be asked for identifying information and will be given the opportunity to enter a phone number for creditors to call. You may want to make this your cell phone number for convenience in responding to such calls.
Trans Union - 1-800-680-7289
Experian - 1-888-397-3742
Equifax - 1-800-525-6285
I called the credit bureau fraud line and they asked for my Social Security Number. Is it okay to give it to them?
The credit bureaus ask for your Social Security number and other information so that they can identify you and avoid sending your credit report to the wrong person. It is okay to give this information to the credit bureau that you call.
Do I have to call all three credit bureaus?
No. If you call just one of the bureaus, they will notify the other two. A fraud alert will be placed on your file with all three and you will receive a confirming letter from all three.
Why can’t I talk to someone at the credit bureaus?
You must first order your credit reports. When you receive your credit reports, each one will have a phone number you can call to speak with a live person in the bureau’s fraud unit. If you see anything on any of your reports that looks unusual or that you do not understand, call the number on the report.
What is a fraud alert?
A fraud alert is a message that credit issuers receive when someone applies for new credit in your name. The message tells creditors that there is possible fraud associated with the account. They must take steps to verify the identity of the applicant. For example, they may call you at the phone number you provided when placing the fraud alert.
Will a fraud alert stop me from using my credit cards?
No. A fraud alert will not stop you from using your existing credit cards or other accounts. Its purpose is to help protect you against an identity thief trying to open credit accounts in your name. It may, however, slow down your ability to get new credit. Credit issuers get a special message alerting them to the possibility of fraud. Creditors know that they should re-verify the identity of the person applying for credit.
How long does a fraud alert last?
An initial fraud alert lasts 90 days. You can remove an alert by calling the credit bureaus at the phone number given on your credit report. If you want to reinstate the alert, you can do so.
What if I have a fraud alert on, but I want to apply for credit?
You should still be able to get credit. While a fraud alert may slow down the application process, you can prove your identity to a prospective creditor by providing identifying information.
Should I place a security freeze on my credit file? How?
In some U.S. states, you have the right to put a security freeze on your credit file. This will prevent new credit from being opened in your name without the use of a PIN number that is issued to you when you initiate the freeze. A security freeze is designed to prevent potential creditors from accessing your credit report without your consent. As a result, using a security freeze may interfere with or delay your ability to obtain credit. Additionally, if you request a security freeze from a credit bureau there may be a fee to place, lift, or remove the security freeze. You must separately place a security freeze on your credit file with each credit bureau.