A breach at pet supply retailer Petco has exposed the personal data of customers in several states, including names, date of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and bank account numbers, as well as credit or debit card info.
If your account is impacted, Petco will reach out via email or mail with a notice similar to this.
After confirming the incident last week, Petco revealed more details in a filing with the Texas attorney general, News reports. The company hasn’t released the total number of people impacted, but it serves 24 million customers annually and made similar filings in California, Massachusetts, and Montana.
In Massachusetts, Petco reported one resident was affected, and in Montana, three. A filing in California, on the other hand, indicates that at least 500 residents were impacted, which is the minimum threshold for a data breach disclosure in the state.
In the California filing, Petco also revealed that the breach was caused by a “setting within one of our software applications that inadvertently allowed certain files to be accessible online.” That setting has now been fixed.
What to Do If You’re Impacted by the Petco Data Breach
Petco is offering a year of complimentary credit monitoring services, along with fraud assistance from Cyberscout. The email will have details about how to sign up. PCMag also has a roundup of the best identity theft protection software and personal data removal services.
If you believe you’ve fallen victim to any of the stated fraudulent activities, Petco urges you to contact the Federal Trade Commission and/or the Attorney General’s office in your state. For more, check out our tips for how to take control, recover fast, and lock things down to prevent it from happening again.
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The retailer also recommends that you watch out for fraud or ID theft attempts via sketchy messages. If your information is out there, it might result in an influx of texts trying to get you to click on links and enter your personal information. Don’t fall for it.
You should also regularly monitor account statements for unauthorized transactions.
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Jibin is a tech news writer based out of Ahmedabad, India. Previously, he served as the editor of iGeeksBlog and is a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex information for a broader audience.
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