With The Home Depot confirming earlier reports of a massive data breach experienced by the home improvement retailer, Attorney General Kilmartin is urging all Rhode Island consumers who have shopped at any one of the more 2,200 stores in the United States since April to monitor their banking and credit card accounts and sign up for the one free year of credit monitoring that the company is offering.
While information on the scope of the data breach have not yet been released, The Home Depot issued a statement yesterday indicating that the cyber attack may have affected transactions as far back as April 2014 and could affect all of The Home Depot's 2,200 U.S. stores.
Attorney General Kilmartin confirmed a multistate investigation by attorneys general into the data breach to identify the circumstances and cause of breach, as well as how The Home Depot handles the impact on shoppers.
The Home Depot is offering free identity protection services, including credit monitoring, to any customer who used a payment card at a Home Depot store in 2014 from April on. Consumers who wish to take advantage of these services can learn more at www.homedepot.com or by calling 1-800-HOMEDEPOT (800-466-3337).
"While law enforcement and The Home Depot continue to dig into who is responsible for this breach and how many customers are impacted, the best thing for consumers is to be their own credit monitor by checking accounts daily for fraudulent or suspicious charges and report those to their financial institution immediately," said Attorney General Kilmartin.
Attorney General Kilmartin offered the following helpful information to consumers who may have shopped at The Home Depot since April:
Check your debit and credit card accounts daily online. If you discover any suspicious or unusual activity on your accounts or suspect fraud, report it immediately to your financial institutions.
If you shopped at The Home Depot since April, sign up for the free credit monitoring and fraud alert offered by the company. A fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you, but it also may delay your ability to obtain credit.
In addition to the free credit monitoring offered by The Home Depot, under federal law, you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report by going to www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228.
About the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Unit The Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Unit investigates and mediates consumer complaints concerning unfair and unlawful business practices and misleading advertising arising out of alleged violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. If groups of people are victimized by a deceptive trade practice, this office may file in the Superior Court a civil investigative demand, which is a formal investigation. In appropriate cases, a lawsuit to stop the illegal business practice may be initiated.
The Consumer Protection Unit is available to speak to community groups on how to prevent being a victim of identity theft and other scams. For more information, please visit www.riag.ri.gov or call 401-274-4400.