Home Depot is contacting customers to warn them their email addresses might have been among those stolen in a huge security breach earlier in the year, leaving them vulnerable to fraud.
According to CBS News, 53-million email addresses were taken in the theft of payment data. Although financial and personal information wasn’t taken, the theft leaves customers open to phishing attempts in which crooks try to extract passwords and other sensitive information with bogus emails.
Disclosing personal information could allow the data thieves to commit identity theft or fraud, CBS said. The story directs readers to a government website called OnGuardOnline, which offers tips on dealing with phony emails.
In a statement posted at its website, Home Depot said the email theft came to light during the company’s investigation of the security breach in which point-of-sale data was taken.
The retailer took a number of steps to enhance security after the breach was discovered, and is offering credit monitoring to any customer who used a credit card in a Home Depot store in 2014 beginning in April. There’s more information at the Home Depot website, or by calling 800-466-3337.
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Home Depot has sent notices to customers warning that the theft of emails in a security breach reported earlier could leave them open to phishing scams.
