Borrowing again from the FTC’s valuable resources, this information is key for any potential victim of the recent breach at Target Stores. By its own admission, Target announced that any credit or debit card used in a Target store in the U.S. between November 27 and December 15 may have been compromised. According to the announcement, the stolen information includes the customer’s name, credit or debit card number, and the card’s expiration date and three digit security code CVV1 (a security code stored on your card’s magnetic stripe).
In light of this announcement, the FTC recommends:
*If you recently used your credit or debit card in a Target store, check your account. If you see charges that you don’t recognize, immediately report them to the fraud department of your bank or credit card provider.
*Going forward, continue to monitor your accounts and check that the information on your credit report is accurate. Your credit report includes information about your credit card accounts and other bills you pay. The law requires the three nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to give you a free copy of your credit report every 12 months if you ask for it. To get your report, visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. You’ll have to provide some personal and financial information to get your report. For information about how to correct errors in your report, visit ftc.gov/freereports.
To file a complaint, visit ftc.gov/complaint. For information about identity theft, visit ftc.gov/idtheft.
For more information on identity theft best practices, please visit www.hvshred.com