“We strongly encourage all Target customers to take advantage of this offer, regardless of whether they have identified suspicious activity in their personal accounts,” Acting Attorney General Hoffman said. “In addition, any Target customers who have not already done so should change their PIN numbers and passwords as a proactive measure. We are working to ensure New Jersey consumers receive all the tools they need to protect themselves against identity theft.”

Target is offering one year of free credit monitoring not only to those customers who had information compromised in the data breach but to all Target customers. Beginning this week, consumers can register for free credit monitoring at creditmonitoring.target.com.

The free credit monitoring will be offered through Experian’s ProtectMyID, and the service provides a copy of a credit report, daily credit monitoring, identity theft insurance (except where prohibited by law) and access to personalized assistance from a fraud resolution agent.

Target has provided the following information for consumers seeking to take advantage of this program:

• Consumers who shopped in U.S. stores may request an activation code by entering their name and email address at creditmonitoring.target.com before April 23, 2014.
• Consumers will then receive an email from Target within one to five days that will include the unique activation code and instructions on how to register the code with ProtectMyID.
• Consumers will have until April 30, 2014 to register with ProtectMyID.
• Emails collected during the process of creating activation codes will only be used for the purpose of sending an activation code to enroll in free credit monitoring.

Consumers with questions are encouraged to visit target.com/databreach or to contact Target directly at 866-852-8680.

The Division of Consumer Affairs on December 31 issued a Consumer Alert regarding the Target Database Breach, with information on steps consumers should take if they were exposed to possible identity theft. The Consumer Alert can be found at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/alert/12312013alert.pdf.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file a complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.

Follow the Division of Consumer Affairs on Facebook, and check our online calendar of upcoming Consumer Outreach events.

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