Recently, Aeropost, Inc., a leading e-commerce and logistics company serving Latin America and the Caribbean, announced a data breach and asked all customers to delete any credit card information they have saved to their Aeropost.com account.

If you received a data breach notification, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. To learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft and what your legal options are in the wake of the Aeropost data breach, please see our recent piece on the topic here.

What Led to the Aeropost.com Data Breach

Details about the Aeropost.com data breach are sparse, as the company disclosed the breach on Twitter on April 24, 2022. However, the company provided a few details through a Twitter account of the Jamaican division of Aeropost, Mailpac. Evidently, the initial Mailpac Twitter post reported, “We regret to confirm that there was a short-lived data breach on the technology platform operated by Aeropost, resulting in some customer credit cards being compromised… Our efforts, which include multiple levels of data security and tokenization of all cards, were unfortunately thwarted in this instance, which we deeply regret… We encourage all customers to make contact with their card issuing bank to cancel any cards stored on our platform at the time the breach occurred and request replacement cards.”

Aeropost, Inc. is an e-commerce and logistics company that operates the website Aeropost.com. Aeropost is based in Doral, Florida, and serves 38 countries in Latin America and throughout the Caribbean. Aeropost is vertically-integrated, meaning that the company processes payments, arranges for delivery, and provides customer service to merchants selling on Aeropost.com. Aeropost employs more than 1,000 people and generates approximately $89 million in annual revenue.

What to Do After a Data Breach Compromises Your Credit Card Information

Financial data, such as credit and debit card information, is frequently targeted by cybercriminals. Once hackers have your credit card information in hand, they can then use that information to make fraudulent transactions. In some situations, cybercriminals may even use your information to steal your identity, which can require months of effort to rectify.

The moment you learn that your credit or debit card information was compromised, it is essential that you take certain steps to protect yourself from the worst of these consequences. Below are a few things you can immediately do to limit the chances of falling victim to identity theft or fraud following a data breach.

1. Inform Your Credit Card Company of the Breach - At the very least, after learning of a data breach that affects your credit card number, you should call the credit card company and report the breach. It is very likely that the company will offer to issue you a free replacement card. Reporting a leaked credit card number is critical because this will make it easier to challenge any fraudulent charges, should they arise. Once you receive your new credit card, be sure to update all other accounts that have your old credit card number saved.

2. Check Your Credit Card Statement Accounts - While you are on the phone with your credit card company, they will likely review your most recent transactions to determine if an unauthorized party has already used your card. However, it is important that you continue to check your account regularly, even once you receive the new card.

3. Change Your Passwords - While there is no indication that the Aeropost.com breach resulted in passwords being breached, in an abundance of caution, you should also change passwords to all your financial accounts. Sometimes, hackers are able to compile information from multiple breaches. If your password was compromised in a previous or subsequent attack, they could then use that information to commit further frauds.

Those breach victims looking to learn more about the steps to take after a data breach or how they may be able to hold the company responsible for maintaining their information responsible for the breach should reach out to a data breach lawyer for immediate assistance.