Mar 30, 2007 at 05:03 PM : Here's more info,...

Here's more info, from a different article, if you don't want to follow a link:

Data breach at TJX could affect millions

By Robert Westervelt, News Editor
18 Jan 2007 | SearchSecurity.com

Retailer TJX Companies Inc., which runs several discount clothing and home goods stores, said Wednesday that its systems had been breached by an attacker who may have stolen the credit card data of millions of customers.

The company said an attacker exploited a flaw in a portion of TJX's computer network that handles credit card, debit card, check, and merchandise return transactions for customers of its T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and A.J. Wright stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and its Winners and HomeSense stores in Canada. The intrusion may involve customers of its T.K. Maxx stores in the U.K. and Ireland and could also extend to TJX's Bob's Stores in the U.S., the company said.

The discovery was made in December, but the retailer said investigators asked to delay an immediate announcement of the breach during the initial part of the investigation.

Customers who shopped in the stores in 2003 and from mid-May to December, 2006 may have been affected, the company said. TJX said it has been able to specifically identify a limited number of credit card and debit card holders whose information was removed from the system.

The company said that "a relatively small number" of customer names and drivers' license numbers were also removed from its system. Those customers are being contacted directly.

The Company also hired consultants from General Dynamics Corp. and IBM to provide assistance in monitoring and evaluating the intrusion, assessing possible data compromise, and seeking to identify affected information. The consultants are also helping bolster TJX computer systems with security upgrades, the company said.

"We have also engaged two of the very best computer security experts to help us strengthen the security of our systems in order to prevent this from happening again and we believe customers should feel safe shopping in our stores," said Ben Cammarata, chairman and acting CEO of the company in an alert to customers on its Web site.

A special helpline is in place for TJX customers who have questions about the data breach. Customers may reach the helpline toll-free at 866-484-6978 in the United States, 866-903-1408 in Canada, and 0800 77 90 15 in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Here's the link to the source of the text above.

If you want more information on the theft and how the information being used by criminals (a first), just use Google or your favorite search engine to search for "TJX id theft". You'll have lots to read.

TJX consumer data theft largest in history - Life, The Universe and Everything - scottso's Blog - Tehachapi News

Mar 30, 2007 at 05:03 PM : Here's more info,...

Data breach at TJX could affect millions