IOWA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General
www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov

CONTACT: Geoff Greenwood
Communications Director
515-281-6699
geoff.greenwood@iowa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2013

Consumer Alert: Target Data Breach

(DES MOINES, Iowa) Attorney General Tom Miller urged Iowans who used debit or credit cards at any Target store from November 27 to December 15 to be aware of a massive data breach that may impact 40 million retail customers.

According to a Target statement, the company has determined that the criminals accessed data including customer names, credit and debit card numbers, card expiration dates, and 3-digit credit card security codes, called C V Vs.  The data breach affected point-of-sale retail customers, not online customers.

Federal law enforcement and an independent forensics firm are investigating the data breach.

Miller urges Target retail customers affected by the breach to carefully review account statements for unauthorized charges and to monitor their credit reports for anything unusual.

“We don’t yet know who stole this data or what they plan to do with it,” Miller said.  “For now, consumers can best protect themselves by closely watching their financial statements.”

Consumers are entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus.  Go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com, call toll-free at 1-877-322-8228, or write to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348.  Beware of “look-alike” websites that charge you for your credit report.

Target has established a hotline for customers who believe they may have been affected by the breach.  Target customers who notice irregular activity on their accounts should call the toll free hotline: 1-866-852-8680.

The Consumer Protection Division has posted identity theft information on the Attorney General’s website at www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov.

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