Breach leaked names and emails of thousands of shoppers

* By: Joce Sterman http://www.abc2news.com/

Baltimore - They're a company that sends out million of emails a year, but you've never heard of Epsilon until now. That's because this internet marketing company is recovering from a security breach that impacts you. ABC2 News Joce Sterman has the steps you need to take to protect yourself in this week's Scam Alert.

Chances are you've handed it over dozens of times to get your hands on a deal. Retailers often ask for your email so they can send you specials or coupons. But thanks to a security breach, something else could be headed to your inbox.

Emails held by Epsilon, which handles marketing for thousands of retailers, have been compromised. As a result, scammers may now have your name and email address and they're ready to go phishing for more information.

You've probably already been warned about this breach through email already. Companies like Best Buy, Hilton, Target and 1-800-Flowers have been contacting their customers, letting them know about the problem and reminding them they will never ask for personal information like credit card or social security numbers through email. So if you get an email that requests that sort of information, you should delete it.

And there are other ways to protect yourself in the wake of this breach. Don't give out your user name or password through email. Don't open links or attachments sent to your inbox, unless you know the sender. You should make sure your computer's spyware, spam filters and virus protection are up to date. And never reply to any email asking for personal information, otherwise you'll risk opening your computer to a little online shopping for scammers.

Epsilon says hackers didn't get access to anything other than names and email addresses, but some lawmakers want to know for sure. Two members of congress are calling on the company to release more information about exactly what was stolen and from whom. Epsilon says only two-percent of its clients were involved in the breach.

These companies are among those impacted by the security breach:

1-800-Flowers
BJ's
Barclays Bank of Delaware
Best Buy
Brookstone
Capital One
Chase
Citi
Disney Destinations
Hilton Honors
Home Shopping Network
JPMorgan Chase
Kroger
LL Bean
Marriott Rewards
McKinsey & Company
New York & Company
Ritz-Carlton Rewards
Target
Tastefully Simple
The College Board
TiVo
US Bank
Walgreens

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