Target: Register Now for 1-Year of FREE Credit Monitoring & Identity Theft Protection
If you were affected by the Target breach that I posted about here and did indeed shop at a Target store in the U.S. from 11/27-12/15, you can now head over here and submit your name and email address to sign up for FREE Credit Monitoring and Identity Theft protection (includes a free credit report, daily credit monitoring, identity theft insurance where available, and access to personalized assistance).
After submitting your information, allow 1-5 days to receive an email from Target containing an activation code that you will use to set up your FREE 1-year Credit Monitoring. Please note that you have until April 23, 2014 to sign up and receive an activation code and activation codes must be redeemed by April 30, 2014. Click here for more information.
(Thanks, Shelby, Kimberly & April!)
Thank you.
My grandmother was another victim of the target security breech. Someone charged over $1,100 in the LAST 24 hours. Gratefully, her credit company contacted her to verify purchases. So continue to monitor your activity histories.
That’s awful! So sorry!
I returned something at target during that time and my amount was suppose to go back on my credit card. I haven’t seem any activity should I be worried?
Same thing happened to my friend, he retuned something and when he had to make a payment days later then found out it had never credit back to his card . He went back to TARGET and took them some time to fix it. I hope you keep all you receipt. I never thought this kind of thing will happen. From now on , if I ever had to return something I will make sure to check my account. .Good luck.
Im very confused… we don’t remember shopping at Target during those times and I even checked our accounts to see if we did… however, we bought last week a stroller, and during the weekend someone charged over $700 on my husbands card (the one we used to buy it)
Now, I know it can happen anywhere, but that was the only different store where we purchase something at… Anyone else bought something after those dates and is going through this?
Sorry this is happening to you and the Target offer is for all customers who shopped their stores not only for the breach dates so you can take advantage of the monitoring.
Maria ~ Sounds like your credit cards were targeted and there is a good chance they have nothing to do with Target security breach from last month, using your credit cards is a risk taken every single day and this is something that happens on a daily basis around the US, not just due to the Target security breach. There are new reports this morning coming out that other Retail stores were hit as well, Neiman Marcus and others have been reported as targeted by online hackers.
Maria, Target confirmed over the weekend that the breach dates go back to at least 12/2012. It is most likely that you are a part of the affected. You need to talk to your bank asap.
Maria I hope this helps you. I was a victim was charged less than $10.00 on a school supply store. my credit union called me 2 sunday nights ago about 8:00 p.m. was a recording to call a number was hesitant especially being on a sunday night. I called my bank on Monday my bank has a fraud department open 24 hours a day. . My debit card (the one linked to target) had to be closed. A new card was issued. Had to go inside branch to set up a new pin # I haven’t gone or called target to link my new card with there store. I’m sitting back to see what the outcome of this whole mess clears out. I truly feel bad for target cause I love there store.
Target wasn’t the only store that had POS terminals hacked. Reuters is reporting that at least 3 other retailers plus Neiman Marcus had security breaches around the same time.
That’s the bonus to being broke: I don’t keep that kind of money in my checking account. My savings is completely separate from my checking so if someone went out trying to use my account, they’d be so outta luck & probably mad.
It’s not just the money in your checking account that’s at risk. A relative had their debit card info stolen recently and ALL their accounts at that bank were emptied. If you keep different accounts but at the same bank then they are still connected. Two weeks to straighten it all out during which time they had to borrow cash from family members just to get through it.
Your savings would only be emptied if you allow the bank to take money from your savings after checking was emptied. It just to protect you from their overdraft fees. If someone was to empty my checking account, there’s no way they will empty saving as well. The card will just decline at checking.
Sorry to disagree. My relative did not authorize overdraft on the checking account but the savings was emptied as well. The bank could (or would) not give a satisfactory explanation as to how the savings was emptied, just that it had been. The online ‘recent transactions’ show withdrawals made directly from the savings, not debit card purchases. The bank did restore all the funds but it took two weeks to resolve. You are not protected simply because you don’t have overdraft.
can you sign up if you shopped during that time but haven’t been affected yet? What if they use your information in the future?
Wondering the same thing.
According to their FAQ section of their website:
Who is eligible for free credit monitoring?
All Target guests who shopped in U.S. stores can take advantage of one-year of free credit monitoring.
Yes – you should sign up. They are going to assist you in monitoring and provide additional protection. Just because you haven’t been affected yet, doesn’t mean you won’t be affected in the future. Unfortunately, the protection will only last a year… The thieves could just wait it out.
Since the theft of information is far greater than initially reported those who haven’t been affected yet still need to keep vigilant. This is a customer relations nightmare for Target, so they are offering the service for all their customers.
The credit monitoring and identity theft protection is available to ALL Target customers, not just those affected by the breach.
wondering if my husband and I can both get the offer since I used my debit card and he used his target card?
Yes. You are technically both different customers (you have different SSN’s, different credit scores, etc.)
I would think so, use his name and email.
Hi Cindy
You should – You are both customers and you both have information that was stolen.
Just heads up not to copy or paste your validation code as it won’t work ,you need to type it in yourself. I found out the hard way when I had to call Experian.
I used copy and paste and it worked fine for me 🙂
In general, sometimes when I copy something, it copies the “space” after whatever I am copying and includes it when I paste. I always check for that and make sure to “backspace” to erase it and I haven’t had problems since I started doing this. hth
If I used my Target credit card and my husband also used his regular Visa, should we both sign up?
Yes I would!
Credit monitoring is something you can easily do yourself. I won’t sign up for something that allows access to my credit report and personal information that’s being endorsed by target. They’ve already lied about how many people and how much information was breached. Now they are trying to cover their behinds with this. That’s not acceptable to me. They need to replace target cards and pay for the replacement of debit cards at financial institutions as well as reimburse banks for the cost of the zero liability insurance that replaces money when its stolen.
Target is doing something, that is what matters, IMO. It is reported that other retail stores had security breaches hit by scammers last month and those companies are JUST NOW coming forward? Every day there is a risk of something, your personal information is being taken and used without your knowledge. Replacing debit cards is free thru your financial institute..why would Target need to pay money out for something that happens on a daily basis at every other business where debit cards/credit cards are taken? If you have filled out a application for anything, car loan, store credit card, even something as simple as a ‘savings card’ at a grocery store, you run the risk of having your information stolen.
Target is in the wrong because they illegally stored personal information. Most people would not have to worry past replacing their cards. Furthermore, it costs the banks costs to replace cards. This costs money. Banks have started to file lawsuits against Target to recoup their costs.
This is correct. Zero liability is not free. It’s an insurance the bank pays for and each time they have an incident they are at risk for paying a higher insurance premium. It works like homeowners insurance. Target is responsible for this so they should be paying those premiums temporarily. If they didn’t store card data on a server they wouldn’t have this problem.
Exactly Jane and Nicole! They were negligent a step further than most companies.
so you know, Neiman Marcus and 3 other well known stores had their data breached as well. I’d like to know why you find Target is negligent? My husband’s job might have the very best firewall and virus protection, but their computers are still at risk, as someone is always trying to decode the decoders!
wish this included your credit score. Looks like experian will be getting a lot of money from people who might not have even thought to check their score like me. I’m not worried about my score, but the temptation for only $3.95 is hard to resist.
You can get your credit scores for free 1x/yr from all three. Don’t go through the Target links. Google it. It is free.
i think the credit report is free, but the score isn’t.
Randomly googling a site online, clicking on the link online and filling out a form online with your personal information is a huge risk. I wouldn’t do it.
Here’s the site for the free annual credit report from each credit agency:
https://www.annualcreditreport.com
This is a great site- I use it annually since my identity was stolen years ago. It doesn’t give your credit score but gives you a copy of your credit report from each agency.
Oh and it was recommended by the detective working my case, so it’s reputable.
This is a great site. It is endorsed by the Federal Trade Commission, a governmental agency. Here’s more info: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports
The last I saw on the news was more than 110 million affected and was more widespread than the holiday season shoppers. They stated anyone who shopped there in the past online or in store could be affected. Better to be safe than sorry, I always check every bill.
And this is why paying with cash is better…..
still doesn’t mean your identity isn’t at risk.
So when you get mugged in the parking lot, who is going to give you your money back?
More like going off the grid is better… 🙂
Exactly. I agree!
Neiman Marcus also had a huge breach in late November-early December and didn’t say anything until recently.
Collin, the Target breach was reported outside of the November-December dates over the weekend. Target believes this goes back to at least 12/2012. People who shopped there not using cash within the last year are at risk for identity theft. Credit monitoring only catches the damage. Many must consider credit freezes with the three big credit reporting agencies.
@jane- Can you please tell me where you saw this info about it going back to Dec 2012? I would like to read more about it. TIA
Thank you. Signed up for the monitoring
Thank you. Code came in less than 10 minutes. Sign up was very easy.
We have First Citizens Bank and I was happily surprised to find a replacement card in the mail. When I asked about it, they said they automatically cancel all cards if they have been compromised in such an event. My card was still active until I activated the other but it was on watch by the bank for any strange charges.
If you shopped at target on those dates but so far have not seen suspicious activity on your credit card account would you cancel your credit card anyway? Or what would you do? Is there any disadvantage or repercussion to canceling a card?
Getting a replacement normally is free for bank customers. The main issue would be if you have auto bill pay, or your info stored on online sites (like Amazon), then you would need to update with the new bank card.
It would likely be a good idea to get a new card. Call your bank for specifics. Most banks and credit card agencies have been asked these questions a tone recently, and will gladly help you.
I’m so irritated! My bank debit card info was stolen and used during the breach. I cancelled my card as well as my Target debit redcard to start fresh after my bank finally reimbursed me. I applied for a new debit redcard and was DENIED- you know- because it’s my fault they let my info get stolen, right? I sure am missing my 5% since Target is where I primarily shop. I may be changing where I shop as this has just added another way Target has done me wrong.
Wow…that is crazy and really stinks.
Its just better to get new cards. Its hard to tell what kind of damage is still yet to come if you card numbers were sold to others. Why even have to deal with all that.
can you please tell me what information you give them when you sign up? I was told your social security #? I want to make sure I am not talking to the bad guys!
I’m thinking the same thing I had my bank card and personal info compromised.
The funny thing about credit monitoring, is that they dont fix your identity should it be stolen. They just reimburse you for damages, or will “delete” the fraudulent charge. What happens if they take over your life, and not just your bank account? Scary situation indeed. Will Target reimburse you for a better option in Identity theft protection? One that covers all your identities? One that fixes your identity for you should anything happen and get you back to “pre-theft” status so ALL your information is secure. To fix your Identity is time consuming and costly! Our company fixes your identity for you if it has been breached AND we monitor it for you and your family for one low monthly cost. We are the best Identity theft protection out there. For more information go to: http://www.legalshieldassociate.com/idt/palmeri89 Please take the time to check out our service.