Thursday, December 19, 2013
Been shopping at Target since Black Friday?
If you used your credit card, your account information is probably now in the hands of hackers.
Target said Thursday that about 40 million credit and debit card accounts may have been affected by a data breach that occurred just as the holiday shopping season shifted into high gear.Good luck if you are one of the 40 million.
The chain said that accounts of customers who made purchases using their cards at its U.S. stores between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 may have been exposed. The stolen data includes customer names, credit and debit card numbers, card expiration dates and the three-digit security codes located on the backs of cards.
The Minneapolis-based company said that it immediately told authorities and financial institutions once it became aware of the breach, and that it is teaming with a third-party forensics firm to investigate the matter and prevent future breaches. The company said it is putting all "appropriate resources" toward the issue.
Target advised customers to check their statements carefully. Those who suspect there has been unauthorized activity on their cards should report it to their credit card companies and call Target at 866-852-8680. Cases of identity theft can also be reported to law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
Target did not say exactly how the data breach occurred, but it said that it had since fixed the problem and that credit card holders can continue shopping at its stores.
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