Scambook Issues Fraud Advisory to Target Customers After Recent Hacking
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 20, 2013 -- Scambook, the Internet's leading complaint resolution platform, is issuing a fraud advisory to consumers who used a credit or debit card at US Target stores between November 27th and December 15th, 2013. These consumers may be at increased risk of fraudulent charges and identity theft.
Target announced Thursday that hackers have stolen the names, credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates and three-digit CVV security codes from an estimated 40 million U.S. Target customers. The incident did not affect customers who shopped on Target.com or Target stores outside of the United States.
“Target has identified and resolved the weakness in their security system that lead to this hacking, and they're reportedly working with law enforcement to investigate the incident,” says Kase Chong, Scambook's Director of Marketing. “However, this is still a serious concern for customers who used a credit card or debit card at Target stores during the November 27 to December 15 window, which includes Black Friday weekend.”
Scambook is advising that Target customers affected by this recent hacking take the following safety steps to secure their financial information:
1. Check all accounts immediately for unauthorized charges. Consumers should report any unfamiliar credit or debit card activity to their financial institution. If the consumer has a Target Red Card, they are advised to contact Target directly. Do this immediately – the sooner fraudulent activity is reported, the easier it is to reverse.
2. Continue monitoring accounts and credit card statements, and enable SMS or email alerts. Scambook recommends daily monitoring of all credit or debit card accounts online. If the consumer's financial institution website includes an option to receive SMS (text message) or email alerts about pending transactions, make sure this option is enabled. If no option is given by the financial institution's website, consumers can register a free account on Mint.com or download the Mint.com smartphone app to receive account activity alerts. (Please note that mobile charges may apply to SMS text message alerts.)
3. Request a free consumer credit report by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may receive 1 free Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit report every 12 months by request. Upon obtaining this credit report, review it for any unauthorized or potentially fraudulent activity. If fraudulent activity is spotted, contact the credit bureaus to place a Fraud Alert on your credit report.
Scambook also wants to remind consumers that a breach of user information does not necessarily result in fraudulent account activity. However, it is better to exercise caution and vigilance in monitoring accounts and reviewing billing statements.
Consumers may also report any suspicious financial activity by filing a complaint on Scambook. For more information and updates on this story as it develops, visit http://www.scambook.com/blog.
About Scambook
Scambook is an online complaint resolution platform dedicated to obtaining justice for victims of fraud with unprecedented speed and accuracy. By building communities and providing resources on the latest scams, Scambook arms consumers with the up-to-date information they need to stay on top of emerging schemes. Since its inception, Scambook has resolved over $18 million in reported consumer damages. For more information, visit scambook.com.
Lisa Inouye, PMBC Group, +1 (310) 777-7546, [email protected]
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