This news item expired on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
If you shop at home improvement retailer The Home Depot, you could be the victim of a data breach of personal financial information such as credit or debit card numbers. The company reports that it is looking into the possibility that payment information from consumers has been compromised.
News reports indicate that The Home Depot may have been hit by the same group of overseas hackers behind last year’s Target security breach.
While we don’t yet know details of the breach or which consumers may be affected, there are steps you can take now to minimize your risk of identity theft if your information has been compromised.
To protect yourself:
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Check your credit and debit card accounts and report any suspicious charges to your bank or credit card company immediately. Also, request a new card with a different number and change any PINs or passwords for the affected account.
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Check your credit reports. Once criminals have your personal information, they may use it to open new accounts in your name. Everyone is allowed a free credit report per year from each of the three credit bureaus. Breach victims can also request a fraud alert from one of credit bureaus, and should consider a security freeze for maximum protection.
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Check out our detailed list of tips for what to do after a security breach at www.ncdoj.gov.