It seems like every week I am reporting to you about another data breach and the latest is the trifecta of Delta Airlines, Sears and Best Buy, all of which have announced that they suffered a data breach affecting customer payment information including credit cards between September 12, 2017 and October 12, 2017 although it is only now being made public. The vulnerability exploited in the data breach for all three companies was in the third party firm that they all use for online and mobile chat services with their customers. The full extent of the data breach at each of the companies has not yet fully been determined, but if you used the online or mobile chat services of any of these companies between September 12, 2017 and October 12, 2017 you should be particularly vigilant in monitoring your credit and debit card use.
TIPS
If you used the online or mobile chat services for any of these companies during the affected period you should check your credit card statement carefully on a regular basis and if you used a debit card, you should monitor the account to which your card is tied very frequently for indications of fraud. This is another opportunity to remind everyone to restrict your use of your debit card to use at ATMs and not to use it for retail purchases because the laws that protect you from fraudulent use of your debit card are not as strong as those that protect you in the event of the fraudulent use of your credit card.  Also, because data breaches in which credit cards and debit card information is stolen are so common, everyone should regularly monitor their credit card statements and bank accounts to which their debit cards are tied on a regular basis to look for evidence of fraudulent charges.
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