If you shopped at any Target store on Black Friday or 18 days following, you are being warned. The big box retailer wants you to know they’ve been hacked and that you are potentially the victim of credit card fraud. Target has been the victim of a very sophisticated security breach. Customers have shared their unhappiness on the company’s Facebook page, where they’ve apologized for this misstep and says they’re working hard to resolve this problem. .
They’ve been dealt a major blow the last shopping weekend before Christmas. The nation’s second-larger discounter acknowledged on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013 that data connected to about 40 million debit and credit card accounts was stolen as part of the breach that started over the Thanksgiving weekend in November 2013.
Nearly eight years ago, TJX Cos., the company that owns Marshalls and TJ Maxx, faced this same PR nightmare when at 45.7 million card users were affected. This was labeled the largest breach in history. Lucky for Target.
If you made an in-store purchase swiping any of your credit cards at its U.S. stores between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15, you may be a victim of the security breach. Exposed data include your name, debit and credit card numbers, card expiration dates and the embedded code on the magnetic strip found on the backs of the cards.
Target advises customers to check their statements carefully. If you find suspicious charges, you should report them to your credit card company and call Target at 866-852-8680. Cases of identity theft can also be reported to law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
