Cardholder — What You Need To Know

• Am I responsible if I’m the victim of a fraudulent transaction?
  No. You are not responsible for any counterfeit fraudulent charges made by third parties that are reported in a timely way to the card issuer. Report any suspicious activity to your card issuer, and your claim will be investigated.
• What is the best way to figure out if I am a victim?
  Closely examine your monthly credit card and bank statements and immediately report suspicious activity to the card issuer.
  
  We understand the card brands are notifying issuing banks of those account numbers they consider to have been placed at risk of compromise in the breach.
  
  You should always check your statements. Look for suspicious charges from telemarketers, free-subscriptions that auto-debit your account once the free trial expires, inaccurate charges by retailers, purchases made by family members, or for any charge that you are not confident you authorized.
• How will I know if my card data may have been placed at risk?
  Contact your card issuer if you identify any suspicious activity on your credit card or bank statement. You should only contact your bank through their verified business contact information. Do not respond to text messages, email notifications or voice mails. These kinds of alerts are generally not used by banking institutions to contact their customers and are most likely scams. You should never divulge your credit or debit card number or other account information unless you are certain it is your banking institution.
• Will I be reimbursed for fraudulent transactions? I heard I might be liable for a $50 charge.
  You will be fully reimbursed for counterfeit fraudulent charges made by third parties that are reported in a timely way to the card issuer.
  
  Heartland doesn’t know of any issuers who charge a $50 fee for a fraudulent purchase. If your bank tries to hold you to the $50 charge, contest it. You should be reimbursed 100% for any counterfeit fraudulent transaction that is reported timely to the card issuer.
• What type of transactions should I look for?
  Look for purchases made in geographic areas you don’t visit and stores you don’t frequent. Beware of — and double check — high-ticket charges. Likewise, check $1 and $2 charges as these often indicate test transactions commonly done by fraudsters.
• What information was exposed in the breach?
  Card account numbers, expiration dates and data from the card’s magnetic stripe and, in a small percentage of cases, cardholder names, were potentially at risk in the breach.
• Was my PIN exposed?
  No. Unencrypted PINs were not exposed.
• Should I cancel my card, or ask the issuer for a new one?
  No. Your issuer has been notified of card numbers the card brands consider to have been put at risk of compromise in the breach. The issuer is in the best position to protect against misuse and should follow industry best practices to monitor suspicious activity and prevent fraudulent charges on those cards.
• Whom should I contact if I have additional questions?
  If you have further questions, please call us toll-free at 1.866.399.6228, or email us at 2008breach@e-hps.com. A Heartland representative will be happy to answer your questions.