the FBI currently leading the investigation into the attack. details on possible suspects were not released, but the Washington Post reports that the attacks could have come from China. members of Congress were informed of the breach of two sessions distinct information in recent weeks, according to USA Today.
How can I protect myself?
The USPS offers a year of free service identity theft monitoring to those affected, although it has yet to specify what service he is giving away. Meanwhile, if you are an employee or USPS customer who might be affected by the breach, here are some safety measures you can take to help prevent further damage to your identity.
1. Keep an eye on your statements. Take a look at your credit card statements and bank for suspicious activity. Be sure to look for unfamiliar transactions, especially those that are under $ 10. If something seems suspicious to you, report it immediately to your bank or credit card issuer. The earlier you catch a problem, fewer headaches, there will be for you down the line.
2. Stay alert for strange phone calls. Countless phones were stolen in the breach, which means it is important to pay attention to people who might try to steal your information. Scammers have your phone number may try to contact you and ask as members of the post office or even the FBI and ask for personal or financial information. Do not answer questions or requests they may have. If you think a thief tries to contact you and take sensitive information, contact the local police and alert the agency the scammer claims to work.
3. Shred documents. Thieves are known to dumpster diving for personal information, especially if they have your home, so make sure to destroy your sensitive financial documents such as bank statements, credit card statements and even credit card offer pre-approval, before throwing them in the trash.
4. Consider signing for identity theft protection. The numerous cyber attacks in recent months have shown that being proactive about self-protection is a necessity in today's digital world. The USPS offers free identity theft monitoring for a year, but has not announced what service it will be. If it's not one of our best protection services against identity theft, consider signing up for one on your own as they offer you complete protection of your personal and financial information. This information is followed on the Internet black market, public folders and other places where your information may be sold, traded or used without your knowledge. In addition, most services that also provide a full report to the three credit bureaus and scores and alerts you of any changes to your credit reports. This is a good option to have since often new credit lines will be opened in your name and wreak havoc on your credit reports without you realizing.
While waiting for the FBI and USPS announced details on their investigation to reveal the full extent of the security breach, read about different identity theft protection services available.