Cornerstone Group © 2014
I
n the wake of the recent data breach at Home Depot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
offers these suggestions for consumers concerned that their credit or debit cards may
have been compromised by a retail or online data breach:
1. Stay calm.
Consumers are not liable for fraudulent charges on stolen account numbers.
2. Check with the website of the retailer for the latest information.
Type the store
name directly into your browser. Do NOT click on a link from an email or social
media message.
3. If your card was compromised, you will likely hear from the bank or card issuer first.
If you have questions, call the customer service number on your card.
4. If your card was compromised, consider putting an alert or freeze on your credit
report with the three major credit reporting agencies.
A credit freeze will prevent
anyone from accessing your credit report or scores.
5. Take these steps if you shopped at the retailer with a credit card:
• Monitor your credit card statements carefully (go online; don’t wait for the paper
statement).
• If you see a fraudulent charge, report it to your bank or credit card issuer immedi-
ately so the charge can be reversed and a new card issued.
• Keep receipts in case you need to prove which charges you authorized and which
ones you did not.
6. Take these steps if you shopped at the retailer with a debit card:
• Do all of the above as for credit cards, but pay very careful attention to your account.
Debit cards do not have the same protections as credit cards and debit transactions
withdraw funds directly from your bank account.
• Contact your bank for more informa-
tion, or if you want to preemptively
request a new debit card or put a
security block on your account.
7. Beware of scammers.
They may pur-
port to be from the retailer, your bank,
or your credit card issuer, telling you
that your card was compromised and
suggesting actions to “fix” the problem.
Phishing emails may attempt to fool
you into providing your credit card
information or ask you to click on a
link or open an attachment, which can
download malware designed to steal
your identity.
To learn more, visit
/
council/bbb-scam-stopper.
BBB Offers Advice on How
to Respond to a Data Breach
Understanding
4K Ultra HD TVs
If you’ve shopped for televisions lately,
you may have noticed signs about the
new 4K Ultra High Definition technology.
What is 4K?
In a nutshell, 4K Ultra HD TVs (also
known as UHD TVs) deliver four times
the picture resolution of the 1080p
Full HD TV you probably own now.
That’s eight million pixels compared
to two million pixels! Those numbers
translate into better image clarity
with finer detail, more nuance, and
greater texture. The higher pixel
density of a 4K panel also enables
you to get much closer without the
grid-like structure of the image itself
becoming visible. It’s important to
note, however, that the full benefit of
4K UHD TVs won’t be realized until
more 4K movies and TV shows are
widely available, which may not be
until 2015 or 2016.
Even if you keep your current TV,
you can enhance your entertain-
ment with premium TV packages
fromWheat State Telephone. Visit
for details.
