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TJX Cos.: 45 Million Credit/Debit Card Numbers Stolen in Computer Security Breach |
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Written by Staff
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Thursday, 29 March 2007 |
TJX Cos., owner of department and discount stores T.J. Maxx and Marshall's in the United States and Winners and Home Sense in Canada on Thursday released details of a major computer security breach after the conglomerate's computer systems were hacked as reported earlier this year. TJX Cos. owns a total of 2,466 stores worldwide.
More than 45 million customer credit card and debit numbers were stolen over an 18-month period beginning in 2005 making it the largest personal data breach ever recorded according to an article by the Boston Globe.
Also stolen during the 18 month period were drivers' licence numbers and other personal data on 455 million people. This personal information was collected by TJX from customers who returned merchandise without a receipt.
Although TJX has no idea if any of the credit or debit card numbers were used by thieves, police in Florida on March 8 charged six people in connection to the data theft after they were arrested for purchasing $1 million worth of merchandise with gift cards from various Wal-Mart stores throughout Florida.
The company expects multiple lawsuits related to the data theft in several U.S. states as well as at least six Canadian provinces. |
