A recent hack into the e-mail system of Epsilon, an e-mail service provider, has had far-reaching impacts on businesses as small as grocery stores, and financial institutions on the scale of Capital One, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup.

As part of a statement released April 1, the Texas-based company indicated that on March 31, “a subset of Epsilon clients’ customer data were exposed by an unauthorized entry into Epsilon’s e-mail system.”  Despite the assurance of Epsilon that no personal information, such as credit card numbers and bank account numbers, were exposed, the company is urging people to stay alert and be careful in e-mail transactions. Bonnie Gross, Vice President of Marketing and Guest Engagement for the Target Mall, pointed out that Target warns its clients, “Do not provide sensitive information through e-mail or outside of a secure website and do not open e-mails from senders you don’t know.” Gross also points out that reputable companies like Target, “would never ask for personal or financial information through e-mail.”
 
Other companies like Best Buy, TiVo, Walgreens, Home Shopping Network, Marriot Rewards, Kroger, Brookstone, Ritz-Carlton and The College Board also sent out warning e-mails to their clients. Though the individual liable for the breach has not yet been identified, Epsilon believes that it is only one person responsible for the incident,  According to a company statement, “A full investigation is underway.”