Bad news for Avery Products Corporation customers: the company recently announced a data breach that compromised credit card details and personal info. If you’ve shopped on their website, here’s what you need to know.

Avery, known for its labels and printing services, discovered the breach on December 9, 2024, but the trouble started much earlier. Hackers planted a sneaky card-skimming tool on avery.com way back on July 18, 2024. That means any payment info entered on their site between July 18 and December 9 was stolen. Yikes.

​Here’s what the hackers got their hands on:
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• Full names
• Billing and shipping addresses
• Email addresses
• Phone numbers
• Payment card details (number, CVV, expiration)
• Purchase amounts

​Thankfully, things like Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses weren’t involved, but what was exposed is still enough for hackers to rack up fraudulent charges.

Avery’s notification even mentions reports of suspicious charges and phishing emails from customers. So, while they can’t confirm a direct connection, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your accounts.

To help out, Avery is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring through Cyberscout. You can also call them at (800) 462-8379 if you think you think you were affected, and be sure to report any fishy account activity to your bank ASAP.

Unfortunately, this breach affected a whopping 61,193 customers, according to the Maine Attorney General’s office. So, if you’ve shopped with Avery recently, it’s worth taking a few extra precautions.

Stay safe out there, and if you’re a victim, don’t wait—get in touch with Avery and your bank to lock things down.

Heads Up! Scammers Exploit Disasters for Fake Charity Schemes

The FBI wants you to stay sharp—scammers are cashing in on tragedies to trick people into donating to fake charities. Whether it's the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans or wildfires in LA, fraudsters are out there, posing as relief agencies, victims, or even celebrities, to steal your money or personal info.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Impersonation Tactics: Scammers might pretend to be disaster relief groups, victims, or influencers, using fake stories to tug at your heartstrings.
• Tech Trickery: Some are even using AI to make their scams look legit.
• Big Impact: In 2024, over 4,500 cases of charity fraud cost people around $96 million.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Research Before Donating: Look for reviews, news articles, and official registrations of charities.
2. Verify Crowdfunding: Double-check the campaign’s legitimacy—reverse search images and verify the stories.
3. Watch for Pressure: If someone says "act now," it could be a scam.
4. Avoid Unsolicited Requests: Don’t open links or messages from unknown sources.
5. Pay Safely: Skip debit, gift, or prepaid cards for donations.
   
   

Quick Tip: Legit charities don’t use free email services, and their official websites can be checked through tools like ICANN Lookup.

Think You’ve Been Scammed?

• File a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
• Include all the details—names, emails, payment info, and interactions with the scammer.

Stay safe, stay skeptical, and let’s outsmart the scammers!

See the official warning here.