Right on Target

Have you received an email recently notifying you of a Target data breach and offering you 1 year of credit monitoring? It claimed to be sent by Target and provided both a link to sign up online and a phone number to call. It was even signed, “Gregg Steinhafel Chairman, President and CEO”.
With the crooks sending phishing messages by the barrel, this one looked as fraudulent as they come.
If you disregarded this message, I am not surprised.
If you called the number or followed the link, it was imprudent and could have left you a victim of identity theft.
However, if you went directly to Target.com, you would have discovered that they do indeed offer support to breach victims and provide a phone number to call and a link to follow. The offer expires in slightly more than a month, so, if you shop at Target, you may want to take them up on their offer soon.
With the recent flood of breaches, it is very likely that your favorite shop will be attacked. If you read about it, or hear or get a notification, take a deep breath and then go straight to the source for information. If you keep your cool, you can take care of your problems and not be trapped by fraudsters.