In wake of card data breach, Target offers free credit monitoring to customers

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is offering free credit monitoring for a year for customers who shop at its stores, the mass merchandise retailer said Monday.

Target said it had contracted with ProtectMyID, a division of Experian, which will offer daily credit monitoring, identity theft insurance and access to assistance from fraud resolution agents, as well as a complimentary credit report. Customers have until April 23 to request an activation code, and then until April 30 to register for credit monitoring through ProtectMyID.

The offer is being made in the wake of a massive credit breach at the retailer, in which the payment card data of some 40 million customers was stolen between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15. On Friday, Target said up to 70 million customers also had information like names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses stolen as well, which it had discovered as part of an investigation of the original breach.