Target Credit Card Breach – What Can I Do To Protect Myself?

Target announced that its stores have been hit by a major credit card attack involving up to 40 million accounts. Target stated in the news release that the unlawful access to customer information took place between November 27, 2013 and December 15, 2013 and the Secret Service is investigating. See link to USA Today news article.

There are several federal laws involved here which allow consumers to protect themselves to include the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Consumers who shopped and paid for merchandise at Target using a credit card or debit card during the time period referenced by Target should be especially attentive to all of their billing statements and bank statements. In fact, all consumers should pay attention to all of their accounts at all times in this day and age of computer hacking and worldwide theft. The National Consumer Law Center has issued a release on December 19, 2013 entitled “Consumers at Risk: Tips When Experiencing a Data Security Breach.”

Please read all of the information at our website on these areas of law and read our blogs as well to protect yourself and your family. You are allowed to get your free credit reports once per year and you should do so in writing. For any problem or dispute you have, please ensure that you write to the creditor and the credit reporting agencies and make sure you keep a copy of the written submission and mail it by certified mail, return receipt requested to ensure that the creditor and/or credit reporting agency receives your dispute.

Finally, if you are the victim of credit card or debit card fraud, you can also submit a fraud affidavit to the credit reporting agencies and the creditor that is negatively affecting your credit. Our offices handle these types of cases so if you have been the victim of credit card fraud or debit card fraud and it is affecting your credit, please feel free to contact our office nearest to you to see how we may be of assistance to you.