Macy’s is the latest retailer to become the victim of a data breach, and consumer advocates tell Kane In Your Corner the ongoing security issues should be a warning to consumers to freeze their credit files, if they haven’t done so already.

In a letter to customers and government officials, Macy’s confirms customer information was accessed by an unauthorized third party. The retailer says the breach happened between about April 26 and June 12. Macy’s says only online customers were impacted. The data obtained reportedly included names, addresses, emails and credit card information.

Bob Russo, president of the Consumer League of New Jersey, tells Kane In Your Corner he urges all consumers to  initiate a credit freeze with each of the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A credit freeze should make it impossible for anyone to obtain new credit in your name unless you temporarily unfreeze the file.

“I think the credit freeze is critical,” Russo says, adding “The opportunity to protect yourself is greater today. Even though we have more fraud, and we have more attempts to hurt people and take money from people, we do have more weapons.”

Macy’s says any customer affected will be contacted and offered free credit monitoring.