Kilmartin Also Urges Target Customers to Take Advantage of Free Credit Monitoring in Wake of Data Breach
Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today announced that the Office has officially joined with fellow attorneys general nationwide in a multistate investigation into the scope of the Target data breach announced last month.
"Initial reports that approximately 40 million customers were impacted by the Target data breach apparently were just the tip of the iceberg. The more recent announcement that approximately 110 million customers could be at risk is exactly why we need to get to the bottom of how Target allowed its systems to be vulnerable to a breach of this magnitude," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "Putting people's economic security at risk is simply unacceptable. Companies must be more forthcoming when a breach occurs and must take appropriate steps immediately to inform customers as well as provide some type of protection going forward."
Kilmartin is urging all Rhode Island residents who shop at Target stores to take advantage of one year of free credit monitoring being offered by the retail company in the wake of the massive data breach.
"Regardless of whether any suspicious activity has taken place in your personal account, I strongly encourage any Target shoppers to take advantage of this offer of free credit monitoring," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "Being proactive in protecting your credit and your identity may prevent future problems. I am actively investigating the scale of this data breach and want to ensure that Target shoppers in Rhode Island receive all the protections they deserve."
In addition to the year of free credit monitoring, Attorney General Kilmartin reminds consumers to change their PIN numbers and passwords.
Last month, Target first reported that a data breach involving payment card information of 40 million customers had been obtained by hackers during November and December 2013. The stolen information included credit and debit card data, customer names and PIN (personal identification data) numbers. Last week, Target revealed that hackers also stole a second batch of data that included names, mailing addresses, phone numbers or email addresses for up to 70 million people.
Target is offering one year of free credit monitoring not only to those customers who had information compromised in the data breach but to all Target customers. Beginning today, consumers can register for free credit monitoring at creditmonitoring.target.com. Target's website provides answers to frequently asked questions concerning the credit monitoring at: https://corporate.target.com/about/payment-card-issue/credit-monitoring-FAQ.aspx.
The free credit monitoring will be offered through Experian's ProtectMyID, and the service provides a copy of a credit report, daily credit monitoring, identity theft insurance (except where prohibited by law) and access to personalized assistance from a fraud resolution agent.
Target has provided the following information for consumers looking to take advantage of this program:
• Consumers who shopped in U.S. stores may request an activation code by entering their name and email address at creditmonitoring.target.com before April 23, 2014.
• Consumers will then receive an email from Target within one to five days that will include the unique activation code and instructions on how to register the code with ProtectMyID.
• Consumers will have until April 30, 2014, to register their code with ProtectMyID.
• Emails collected during the process of creating activation codes will only be used for the purpose of sending an activation code to enroll in free credit monitoring.
Consumers with questions are encouraged to visit target.com/databreach or to contact Target directly at 866-852-8680. Or, you may contact the Consumer Protection Unit at the Office of Attorney General at 401-274-4400 or by email at contactus@riag.ri.gov.