At least 40 million customers through 1,800 US stores of Target were affected by the security breach -. Fortunately, at least target online shoppers were spared
Although details on how exactly this happened are yet to be known, Target is currently working with a third party forensic company to investigate violations and prevent future problems. Unfortunately, it does not contribute directly customers who already have fraudulent charges on their accounts, many were unable to reach the target of aid.
What information was compromised in the breach of security target
The information compromised by hackers include customer names, credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates and the embedded code on the magnetic stripe on the back of the card. As of now, it is unclear whether the CVV2 code - the three-digit security code on the back of the card - has been compromised
.Millions of target customers' credit and debit card information has already been sold to underground "card shops." These are part of a large black market Internet where identity thieves credit card information stolen can purchase using virtual currencies like Bitcoin and WebMoney and Western Union and Money Gram transfers. The "shops" selling illegal customers card information targets up batches of a million, according KrebsOnSecurity.com. Thieves can even search the exact type of card they want to buy (ie Visa, Mastercard, issuing country, financial institution, etc ...)
Source: KrebsOnSecurity.com - Sample card shop selling illegal credit card information to identity thieves
What if your information has been compromised in the breach of security target
If you used your credit or debit card to the target between 27 November and 15 December, it is important review your statement carefully for any fraudulent charges, and do this often . If you find suspicious charges on your statement, your card information may have already been sold to identity thieves. If so, contact your financial institution so they can investigate the charges. You will not be held responsible for fraudulent monetary losses in your account, simply contact them immediately.
Most of the best identity theft protection services specifically monitor the black markets of the Internet to your credit card number , and immediately alerts you if your information is used . Stolen credit card information can be detrimental to your credit score, so these identity theft protection services monitor your credit report, also alert you if there are changes on your credit reports. Visit our view of identity theft protection page to learn more about these services, many of which offer free trials.
Although protection services against identity theft may help protect against fraud, they will not always catch illegal activity on your credit card 100% of the time. Another option is to close the credit or debit card that was used. Thus, if your card information is sold or used in an attempt to make fraudulent purchases, thieves will not be able to use the data because the card is inactive. For this, contact your bank and explain the situation - they will be able to cancel your card and you a new one. If you cancel a debit card, some banks may be able to issue you a temporary ATM card in the branch, you can use while you wait for your new card to arrive in the mail.