Watch CBS News

Chase, Best Buy And Others Warn Customers Of E-Mail Breach

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Chase, Best Buy and Walgreen are among the latest companies to be hit by hackers.

Customers have been alerted that hackers got their hands on names and e-mail addresses but not more sensitive information such as Social Security numbers.

The information may have been leaked following a security breach at Epsilon, a Dallas-based company that manages e-mail communications.

Other affected companies include Capital One Financial Corp., Barclays Bank, U.S. Bancorp and Citigroup Inc., TiVo Inc., Kroger Co., the College Board and Walt Disney Co.'s travel subsidiary, Disney Destinations.

The email addresses could be used to target spam or "phishing" attacks – which coax customers to sign into a fake website that captures the user's login information which fraudsters can later use to access the real account.

To avoid becoming a victim, take the following precautions:

  • Don't give your user ID or password in an e-mail.
  • Don't respond to e-mails that require you to enter personal information directly into the e-mail.
  • Don't respond to e-mails threatening to close your account if you do not take the immediate action of providing personal information.
  • Don't reply to e-mails asking you to send personal information.
  • Don't use your e-mail address as a login ID or password.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.