In light of the recent announcement that the largest incident of personal data hacking ever has taken place at Epsilon, a marketing services provider, a review of how this can impact consumers is needed. When you sign up to voluntarily receive e-mails from a company, organization or service to get the latest deals or be kept up to date on causes, you provide them with your e-mail address and some basic identifying information. Depending on the purpose they may also have your credit card information stored. The compromised information so far has been restricted to e-mail addresses and identifying information. But this information is not maintained by the group with which you are affiliated. They hire a third party. A marketing services provider will be the sender of e-mails and coupons, deals and alerts.

This case involves the marketing services provider Epsilon, possibly the world's largest provider with hundreds of billions (yes, that is a "b") of e-mails sent annually. Clients that are known to have been affected so far include:

Banks and Financial Services: JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, Capital One, Citibank, TD Ameritrade, Ameriprise Financial, LL Bean Visa

Retailers and Internet Marketers: Lacoste, AbeBooks, Ethan Allen, Eileen Fisher, New York and Company, Brookstone, Walgreens, Target, bebe Stores, 1-800-Flowers, Best Buy, Fry's, Beachbody, Home Shopping Network

Rewards Programs: Hilton Honors Program, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, Marriott Rewards, Red Roof Inns, Disney Destinations

Grocery Chains: King's Soopers, QFC, Ralph's, Dillon's, Fred Meyer

Service Providers: TiVo, The College Board (home of SATs), Robert Half, and McKinsey & Company

Credit Advisors Foundation has been advocating and educating on the importance of protecting personal financial and identifying information since our founding 20 years ago. It's now time to see who was paying attention with a pop quiz. We'll call it Epsilon 101.

As a recipient of e-mails from one or more of these companies, I can expect:

1. No change to the quantity or contents of the e-mails I receive
2. An increase in the number of phishing or scam e-mails I receive
3. All of the above
4. None of the above

The hackers or their cohorts will use this type of information to:

1. Create realistic e-mails that claim to be from my vendor but are clever creations by scammers
2. Build a feeling of trust when I receive an e-mail from them since they "know" who I am
3. Obtain additional information regarding my finances by requesting that I follow a link or reply with account numbers, social security numbers, bank information, answers to security questions or security codes
4. All of the above

If I receive an e-mail from my true vendor they will:

1. Never ask me to reply with additional personal information on a request THEY generate
2. Never ask me to use a link to another similar sounding site to provide financial information
3. Never provide me with a number DIFFERENT from their standard customer service number to provide financial information
4. All of the above

If I receive an e-mail from an unknown sender:

1. Mark it as spam with my e-mail provider
2. Delete it without opening it to prevent mal-ware or tracking viruses from entering my system
3. Never follow a link from an unknown sender
4. All of the above

The answers to these questions are b, d, d and d. Even if you scored 100% you must take action to protect yourself. If this leaves you with more questions that need answers, please contact the certified personal financial counselors at Credit Advisors Foundation at (800) 942-9027 or www.creditadvisors.org.