Has anybody received a US Postal letter this week from Homeland Security?

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by Data Banks, Jun 13, 2015.

  1. Data Banks

    Data Banks Corporal

    Yesterday I received a letter from Homeland Security. They were just writing to tell me that my personal identity might have been hacked. Now I'm wondering if anybody here received one of these letters too? I'm not a federal employee who I heard might have had their personal info compromised this week after China hacked the fed's computers. Thus I wonder if this letter really was from Homeland Security or a case of fraud?
     
    Data Banks, Jun 13, 2015
    #1
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Either way, I would alert my bank and credit card companies and change all password for all account.
     
    TimW, Jun 13, 2015
    #2
  3. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

    I would contact them and check it out: http://www.dhs.gov/contact-us

    If the letter is asking for any personal info, I'd say scam.

    Is it asking you to take any action?
     
    LauraR, Jun 13, 2015
    #3
  4. Data Banks

    Data Banks Corporal

    No they didn't ask me for any personal info but they did tell me that the personal protection services of AllClear Secure and AllClear Pro are available for my protection and they gave me a redemption code to enter at their site. That makes me wonder too if these protection services aren't pulling a scam here?
     
    Data Banks, Jun 13, 2015
    #4
  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Sounding more and more like a scam.
     
    TimW, Jun 13, 2015
    #5
  6. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

    There is a lot of info in this Wall Street Journal article: http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sus...government-data-breach-sources-say-1433451888

    One of the links goes to this (http://www.opm.gov/news/releases/2015/06/opm-to-notify-employees-of-cybersecurity-incident/)

    The free monitoring tool is standard for most places that have had data hacks. I got it from Target. That is not a scam.

    If they are only offering you free monitoring, I doubt it's a scam and would probably take it seriously. Its up to you as far as what you do, but I doubt I'd ignore it.
     
    LauraR, Jun 14, 2015
    #6
  7. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    AllClear Secure is legit. I would follow through with the reporting! Again, contact your banks, credit cards and change your passwords.
     
    TimW, Jun 14, 2015
    #7
  8. Data Banks

    Data Banks Corporal

    When you say "contact your banks" what's that all about, what should I tell them? And also when it comes to passwords for my credit cards, they're not stored on Uncle Sam's website. While AllClear Secure is somewhat of a scam too since they say they're free, but that's just for 18 months. And after that it looks like they want $15 a month and the reviews for it suck http://bestidtheftcompanys.com/company/all-clear-id
     
    Data Banks, Jun 14, 2015
    #8
  9. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Most protection systems are only for 18 months. You need to follow the advice given to protect your accounts!
     
    TimW, Jun 14, 2015
    #9
  10. Fred_G

    Fred_G Heat packin' geek

    Yep, from what I heard they are only offering it free for 18 months. I think I remember the IRS getting hacked a while back also. I read they still have a lot of Win XP computers.

    Also as others said, call bank and CC companies you have accounts with. They might want to cancel your current card and give you a new one. Maybe change passwords on bank accounts and such.
     
    Fred_G, Jun 14, 2015
    #10
  11. Data Banks

    Data Banks Corporal

    I did contact Homeland Security today and they are now investigating my case. I also contacted one of my banks who assured me there's nothing to worry about since all I have is one credit card with and that's protected in cases of fraud. What I really have to worry about is my identity being stolen now. That actually happened to me too, long ago before the internet even existed. :eek
     
    Data Banks, Jun 15, 2015
    #11
  12. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Good to know.....i hope everything turns out OK.
     
    TimW, Jun 15, 2015
    #12
  13. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

    Thanks for the follow up to let us know. Its good to know they are responding to your inquiry with an investigation.
     
    LauraR, Jun 15, 2015
    #13

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