A data breach can create a second security problem long after the original incident.
Criminals may use exposed names, email addresses, account information or other details to make follow-up scams look legitimate.
A message that knows which company you use can feel more trustworthy than a generic phishing email.
That is exactly why breach victims should remain alert after receiving a notification.
If a company says your information was exposed, expect that criminals may try to use the incident as an excuse to contact you.
Do not use links supplied in unexpected follow-up messages.
Go directly to the affected company's official website and verify the situation yourself.