Missing Tape Has Information of 650,000 Credit Card Holders
GE Money said Friday that a backup computer tape stored by Iron Mountain Inc., a data storage company, has gone missing.
The tape reportedly holds the personal data of 650,000 customers at about 230 retailers, including J.C. Penney.
Jones said roughly 150,000 social security numbers are on the tape as well, and that those affected will be sent notifications in the mail.
He added that victims whose social security numbers are on the tape will receive 12 months of credit monitoring free of charge.
But consumers who already received the letters have reportedly claimed that they looked like credit card offers, and that many threw them out as a result.
This incident raises a lot of questions about consumer security, and proves that you need to keep a good eye on your credit.
Even if you practice extreme caution when using your credit or debit card, what’s done with the information behind the scenes is really out of our hands.
In most cases, it’s up to the merchant to handle our vital information in a way that doesn’t compromise it.
To this effect, make sure you repeatedly check all of your credit accounts on a weekly basis to keep track of any and all charges.
(photo: ninjakem)
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Posted Under: Credit News