Protecting your credit today is of paramount importance.

Target announced it will offer one year of free credit monitoring to customers who had information compromised in the data breach and to all Target customers of U.S. stores.

Persons who suspect they may be part of that breach should follow suggestions being offered by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Those suggestions include checking credit card and debit card accounts regularly and monitoring accounts to look for suspicious activity. If errors are found, immediately notify your credit or debit card provider.

Change your personal information numbers and passwords for any affected accounts.

Watch for possible “phishing” scams designed to obtain additional personal or financial information. When a security breach is announced, scammers may create phony messages or websites to take advantage of consumers.

Place an initial fraud alert on your credit report. …

Corporations need to do more to protect the personal information of customers, but all consumers need to be vigilant in watching their accounts for suspicious activity and immediately notify banks or businesses so they can protect their valuable credit rating.

 

The (Tiffin) Advertiser-Tribune