[ladylake1]

I received an email supposedly from Target instructing me how to sign up for the free ID protection and credit monitoring. The site I was referred to was Experian which I know is reputable (at least as reputable as can be these days. Of course to sign up for and use the protection one of the requirements is to enter your SSN. I have not signed up as I want to be certain that this is legitimate and not just a someone trying to get my SSN to complete my ID package for sale. Anyone used this offer?

[asianthree]

target got enough of our info...its not going to happen for us...

[NIPAS K-9]

Originally Posted by ladylake1

i received an email supposedly from target instructing me how to sign up for the free id protection and credit monitoring. The site i was referred to was experian which i know is reputable (at least as reputable as can be these days. Of course to sign up for and use the protection one of the requirements is to enter your ssn. I have not signed up as i want to be certain that this is legitimate and not just a someone trying to get my ssn to complete my id package for sale. Anyone used this offer?

do not do it. It is a scam..........

[kaydee]

I got the same email and to be honest, I decided not to accept. We should not have to go to this extreme to be protected.

The email is not a scam. There are many articles about this on the internet. I was surprised I received it since my purchase was last March and I thought it was only those who shopped between Thanksgiving & Dec__who were affected. So I entered the website address and CenturyLink said it was not a valid address. I called the ph# listed in the email and was told that indeed, this offer for protection was only for those holiday shoppers. He didn't know why the website address didn't work for me. Regardless, I would be afraid to enter my ssn.

[ilovetv]

This is an email I got today, from Target CEO. It's all relevant to this thread.

Dear Target Guest,
As you may have heard or read, Target learned in mid-December that criminals forced their way into our systems and took guest information, including debit and credit card data. Late last week, as part of our ongoing investigation, we learned that additional information, including name, mailing address, phone number or email address, was also taken. I am writing to make you aware that your name, mailing address, phone number or email address may have been taken during the intrusion.

I am truly sorry this incident occurred and sincerely regret any inconvenience it may cause you. Because we value you as a guest and your trust is important to us, Target is offering one year of free credit monitoring to all Target guests who shopped in U.S. stores, through Experian’s® ProtectMyID® product which includes identity theft insurance where available. To receive your unique activation code for this service, please go to creditmonitoring.target.com and register before April 23, 2014. Activation codes must be redeemed by April 30, 2014.

In addition, to guard against possible scams, always be cautious about sharing personal information, such as Social Security numbers, passwords, user IDs and financial account information. Here are some tips that will help protect you:

Never share information with anyone over the phone, email or text, even if they claim to be someone you know or do business with. Instead, ask for a call-back number.

Delete texts immediately from numbers or names you don’t recognize.

Be wary of emails that ask for money or send you to suspicious websites. Don’t click links within emails you don’t recognize.

Target’s email communication regarding this incident will never ask you to provide personal or sensitive information.

Thank you for your patience and loyalty to Target. You can find additional information and FAQs about this incident at our Target.com/databreach website. If you have further questions, you may call us at 866-852-8680.
Gregg Steinhafel
Chairman, President and CEO

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

This is an email I got today, from Target CEO. It's all relevant to this thread.

Dear Target Guest,
As you may have heard or read, Target learned in mid-December that criminals forced their way into our systems and took guest information, including debit and credit card data. Late last week, as part of our ongoing investigation, we learned that additional information, including name, mailing address, phone number or email address, was also taken. I am writing to make you aware that your name, mailing address, phone number or email address may have been taken during the intrusion.

I am truly sorry this incident occurred and sincerely regret any inconvenience it may cause you. Because we value you as a guest and your trust is important to us, Target is offering one year of free credit monitoring to all Target guests who shopped in U.S. stores, through Experian’s® ProtectMyID® product which includes identity theft insurance where available. To receive your unique activation code for this service, please go to creditmonitoring.target.com and register before April 23, 2014. Activation codes must be redeemed by April 30, 2014.

In addition, to guard against possible scams, always be cautious about sharing personal information, such as Social Security numbers, passwords, user IDs and financial account information. Here are some tips that will help protect you:

Never share information with anyone over the phone, email or text, even if they claim to be someone you know or do business with. Instead, ask for a call-back number.

Delete texts immediately from numbers or names you don’t recognize.

Be wary of emails that ask for money or send you to suspicious websites. Don’t click links within emails you don’t recognize.

Target’s email communication regarding this incident will never ask you to provide personal or sensitive information.

Thank you for your patience and loyalty to Target. You can find additional information and FAQs about this incident at our Target.com/databreach website. If you have further questions, you may call us at 866-852-8680.
Gregg Steinhafel
Chairman, President and CEO

It's free for a year and then, what will this cost their customers, going foward?

I will sign up for it, for the protection it offers? If there is such a thing as protection, when their system was comprised. Probably, I will drop their CC, after the year, is up. it's not worth the savings, to have one's personal data be compromised. If hackers broke in once, who can believe, it won't happen again. I think this is a case of locking the barn, after the horse ran away. It's damage contol. Target is afraid of their customers, flocking to other retail outlets. It is a shame, as Target does offer good quality products, at a reasonable price as they should have had, a better firewall.

Shame on them, for letting this happen, in the first place.

[renielarson]

How many times have we been told not to give our SSN out..especially over the internet. I opt out, period!

[DDoug]

Just remember the French model from the internet

[jblum315]

No, because I haven't shopped at Target. My ID Protection plan had me register a credit lock with Experian and the other 2 agencies. If you call Experian they will send you the paperwork.

[Cedwards38]

I did. Very easy to sign up and arrange to have text message notifications if there is suspicious activity on my card. I don't think this is a scam.

[justjim]

We used our credit card at Target several times during the Holiday season and I have not found anything but OUR charges on our Visa Card. I checked my charges often before the "breach" via the Internet and will continue to do so. And we will continue to shop Target.

From what I recently read, Target was not the only "breach" but probably the largest. As of this date, I have not received any correspondence from Target.

[TrudyM]

Originally Posted by justjim

We used our credit card at Target several times during the Holiday season and I have not found anything but OUR charges on our Visa Card. I checked my charges often before the "breach" via the Internet and will continue to do so. And we will continue to shop Target.

From what I recently read, Target was not the only "breach" but probably the largest. As of this date, I have not received any correspondence from Target.

I have been lucky also. But I am still checking every morning online to see what has been posted as pending to my account. It only takes a couple of minutes and I think I will make it part of my routine from now on.

[2BNTV]

Today's Daily Sun published an article, about how several stores were affected, by this black market software, that hacks into computer systems. It may not just be Target. They didn't mention any exact retail stores, that were affected.

I plan on monitoring my CC purchases, with my receipts going forward, just to be safe.

My Visa card company, is driving me crazy, as they monitor my CC, and it seems that someone has been making fradulent purchases. They have sent me 3 new cards in two months. It's nice they are on top of things, but I have had to notify several companies that I do business with, and give them a different CC.

[ladylake1]

There was an article today in the Daily Sun that the email I received for ID protection is legitimate. I am still somewhat leery of signing up despite some of the comments posted here. Will continue to think about this option.