As part of the Welcome Back package, US PlayStation Network account holders are being offered a free 12 month subscription to Debix’s AllClear ID Plus.

The service offers up to $1 million insurance against identity fraud, and monitors criminal and law enforcement sources as well as general data for user details leaks, among other benefits.

Sony announced the offer early in the month but seems to have delayed sending invitations.

Sony’s last major email roll out, when users were invited to reset their passwords, resulted in the spam-blocking of official email by many ISPs – presumably this lot will be a little more staggered.

The Welcome Back package also includes free games and PS Plus subscriptions. Sony created the package following an extended PSN outage after the service was hacked in mid April.

The PlayStation Store is still offline, although online play has resumed.

Thanks, Shack.

Eurogamer’s Johnny Minkley told BBC News this morning that getting your details nicked online isn’t more likely to happen just because you’re a gamer.

His comments came after a research firm estimated that between 30,000-35,000 Live account details per year are being sold through avenues such as IRC rooms for as little as £3 a piece.

“There’s not a specific problem to videogames,” he said, noting that “huge teams” were involved in Live security at Microsoft.

The answer for consumers, Minkley said, was simply to be aware of the issue.

“You’re talking to people, you’re relating to people,” he added.

“You just have to be careful about the information you’re giving out.”

“Social engineering” – the art of essentially grooming people into giving out personal data – was mentioned, but it was noted that all financial information, such as credit card details, is often ghosted out on online gaming platforms even if others do gain access.

He’s on again at 9.10am BST on BBC1.