Attorney General warns Iowans about PlayStation data breach

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is advising Sony PlayStation account users in Iowa to take precautions to protect themselves from identity theft in the wake of the company's disclosure of a massive personal data breach.

Through a statement issued Tuesday, Sony confirmed that “between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network.” The breach could affect 77 million account holders worldwide, according to media reports. “While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, we cannot rule out the possibility,” the company's statement added.

Miller advised any consumer who provided credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity to assume their credit card information may have been compromised.

“Consumers in this situation should watch their credit card activity very carefully,” Miller said. “Hackers infiltrated Sony's huge online network and stole large volumes of names, addresses, birth dates, user names, passwords, and possibly credit card information.”

Miller also advised consumers of the potential for e-mail, telephone and mail scams.

Criminals who may or may not be connected with the breach may contact consumers and attempt to elicit additional personal information, according to a statement issued by Miller's office. Sony stated that the company will not contact consumers by e-mail seeking or confirming personal information.

Miller advised concerned Iowans to consult the identity theft prevention tips provided through a Consumer Advisory posted on the Attorney General's website: www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov. Consumers also may call the AG's consumer protection division at 515-281-5926 or toll free at 1-888-777-4590.

The Federal Trade Commission also offers tips on preventing and responding to identity theft at the www.ftc.gov/idtheft Web site.