Just recently, the money transfer service, MoneyGram announced that hackers were able to access customer information. The incident happened sometime between September 20 and 22, 2024, but it was discovered on September 27. While the number of customers affected is not known, what is known, besides the fact that the attackers had unnoticed access for up to five days, is that the breach impacted various types of sensitive information. So, if you have used MoneyGram at any time, you should read on.
Stolen data included names, contact details, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, government-issued ID numbers, bank account numbers, and transaction records. For a limited number of individuals, the compromised data also included information related to criminal investigations, such as fraud cases.
What you can do is check the MoneyGram website for information on how affected customers can access their free credit monitoring services. It’s also a great idea to monitor financial accounts closely for any signs of fraud and to review credit reports for unusual activity. Anyone in the U.S. can get a credit report from each of the credit bureaus at no charge one time each year. And it’s advised to take advantage of this. To keep better tabs on anything amiss on those reports, why not request one every 4 months from one bureau at a time? We can’t think of why not.
MoneyGram is offering identity protection and credit monitoring services free of charge for two years to U.S. residents affected by the breach. Additionally, it’s recommended that victims enable two-factor authentication on sensitive accounts, or even those that aren’t so sensitive. On top of that, avoid storing payment information on websites and be cautious of phishing attempts claiming to be from MoneyGram.
An extra authentication method provides more security and even if you don’t think the information in your online game account is sensitive, you’d be amazed at how much a person can find out about you from the information in there. So, if you’re given the opportunity to add any type of multi-factor authentication (MFA) to any account, take advantage. It’s one of the best ways to keep your accounts safe.
If you believe your information may have been involved in the breach, MoneyGram's website offers further guidance, including steps for activating identity theft protection services and checking credit reports. The company has set up a dedicated hotline for inquiries related to the breach as well.
SUBSCRIBE TO WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
How To Protect Yourself After A Data Breach
