A security breach at a major Internet company could make you a target for scammers. The company, Dallas-based Epsilon, handles email communications for thousands of other companies. Thieves took names and email addresses of millions of people. That may not seem like enough to do any harm, but it's plenty to make anyone a target of a scam.
"This is pretty much the way people get into your computer now," said Joe Canarecci, who works for C & P Distributing, a computer and IT company in Mishawaka.
He said methods hackers use to get your personal information has changed. "Now a day’s people are basically, it's social engineering. They trick you into action."
Epsilon manages email communications for more than 2,500 clients. Some of those affected by the hack are banks like Chase, Citigroup and Capital One. And stores like Best Buy, Walgreen's and Kroger.
The hackers will use the stolen names and email addresses to send specifically targeted email to your inbox. Because they know you do business with these companies, the messages may look legitimate. And they'll try to get you to give your account numbers and passwords.
