Was Your Email Among Millions Exposed in Epsilon Data Breach?
If you recently received an email from a company you do business with, your information may have been stolen as part of the Epsilon data breach.
Epsilon is a marketing company that manages e-mail lists for a variety of large companies, such as Target, Kroger, Marriot, Best Buy and a host of banks.
Last week, hackers broken into their system, stealing potentially millions of email addresses, opening up customers to e-mail phishing scams.
In what some are calling the largest security breach in history, email addresses attached to names and business relationships were stolen. Other personal identifying information, such as social security numbers and addresses, were not accessed.
Epsilon has identified the source of the break-in and is working with law enforcement, but if your information was stolen, you are still not safe.
Email phishing scams generally involve phony emails that are purportedly from reputable companies or the government. They most often ask recipients to provide personal information, or to verify account numbers.
Companies will not ask you for information over e-mail, so if you receive one requesting account information or other personal data, do not respond. Instead, contact the business by phone or via their website.
To prevent email phishing scams, you should also only share your information with verified sources who have adequate website security, and try not to open e-mails from people you do not know.
If you think you have fallen victim to an email phishing scam, keep an eye on your credit report and any credit card and bank accounts. The best thing you can do is be vigilant and cut off any theft as early as possible.
Related Resources:
- Epsilon security breach exposes thousands of email addresses (Christian Science Monitor)
- Steps You Should Take in Preventing Identity Theft (FindLaw)
- Email 'Stranded Scam' on the Rise says FBI (FindLaw's Common Law)
- Report: Internet Fraud Cases See Steady Increase (FindLaw Blotter)