Chase Debit Cardholders Should Take Advantage of Credit Monitoring

Treasurer McCord also reminds all consumers to check credit reports periodically

Harrisburg – Eligible unemployment compensation and workers’ compensation recipients who use the J.P. Morgan Chase prepaid debit card for their benefits should sign up for two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft insurance, State Treasurer Rob McCord said today.

Last week, J.P. Morgan Chase notified about 26,000 Pennsylvania debit cardholders that some of their personal information might have been improperly viewed between mid-July and mid-September. Chase said it found no evidence that any of the data has been misused, but as a precaution, it is providing affected cardholders two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft insurance through ITAC Sentinel.

“Cardholders who were notified that their personal information may have been compromised should definitely take advantage of the free credit monitoring and identity theft insurance that is available,” McCord said.

“Also, during this heavy holiday shopping season when credit and debit card use is high, it is a good time to remind all consumers that regular monitoring of your credit report is a good way to help safeguard your personal finances,” McCord added.

Treasury provides information to the public on how to obtain free credit reports under the “Financial Education” portion of the Treasury website.

The Chase cardholders who may have been affected should follow the link in the email notification they received to obtain the free protection services and report transactions on any of their accounts that they do not recognize. Any questions can be directed to Chase at (866) 849-5255.

Pennsylvania offers the prepaid debit card through J.P. Morgan Chase as one option for those receiving unemployment or workers’ compensation benefits. The 26,000 Pennsylvania cardholders affected by the data breach are among nearly 400,000 in this state who use the debit card for those benefits.

For more information, visit www.patreasury.gov.

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Media contact:
Gary Tuma
717-787-2465
gtuma@patreasury.gov

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