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BBB: Watch out for piggyback scams after IdahoWorks breach

Posted at 9:49 AM, Mar 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-27 11:49:17-04
After 170,000 people were announced to be part of a data breach of IdahoWorks, the Idaho Department of Labor's job seeker program, Better Business Bureau says it's received a number of calls from people wondering if the notification email is a scam.
 
"Sadly, if you’ve received this email, you are likely one of the people who are part of the data breach. It was part of an incident involving America’s Job Link, a Kansas-based, multi-state system that operates the department’s IdahoWorks job search engine," said BBB's Emily Valla.
 
According to the Department of Labor, names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth could have all been exposed.
 
Idahoans were also affected by the Amalgamated Sugar Company's recent data breach. BBB recommends if you were involved in either hack, place a fraud alert on your credit reports immediately, and keep an eye on your credit reports.
 
"Contact the credit reporting bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, and let them know you suspect your identity has been stolen. This will make it more difficult to for thieves to use your information," Valla said.
 
In the coming weeks and months, Valla says continue watching your accounts.
 
"Thieves may not use your information right away. If they do, file a report with your local police. This starts a paper trail on your road to recovery. Keep a copy of the police report and make note of the date of your report, in case your bank, credit card company or other company needs proof of the crime," Valla said.
 
And watch for scammers who want to piggyback on data breaches.
 
"Be suspicious of emails claiming your data has been compromised and you need to 'verify' information. Remember, it’s easy to impersonate logos, so even if an email looks official, be wary of clicking on links or downloading attachments," Valla said.
 
You can find more information at www.bbb.org.