Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

TJX Data Breach Exposed 94M Credit Cards

Still no arrests after up to $83M is spent with stolen numbers

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 24, 2007 7:15 PM CDT

(Newser) – Cyber thieves have pinched 94 million credit cards from a discount retailer—double the last estimate—and spent up to $83 million as far as Hong Kong and Sweden, the AP reports. Banks are now suing the retailer, TJX Cos., to recover their losses. But those losses keep growing: "You know, these [card numbers] are going to be sold off for a period of time in the future, so it's going to continue," says a Visa exec.

Police have made no arrests since TJX conceded 45.7 million lost numbers in March, but Canadian officials did track the theft to transfers at two Miami-area Marshalls stores. TJX, the owner of 2,500 retail outlets in the US and Canada, claims that 75% of the numbers are still secure—either expired or protected by a magnetic strip.

At least 94 million Mastercard and Visa accounts have been exposed to potential fraud due to a massive data breach.
At least 94 million Mastercard and Visa accounts have been exposed to potential fraud due to a massive data breach.   (Shutterstock.com)
A customer approaches a MasterCard logo as she enters a store,in this Feb. 9, 2007 file photo, in Beverly, Mass. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole, file)
A customer approaches a MasterCard logo as she enters a store,in this Feb. 9, 2007 file photo, in Beverly, Mass. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole, file)   (Associated Press)
A sign outside the TJX Cos. headquarters is seen in this file photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007 in Framingham, Mass. At least 94 million Visa and MasterCard accounts may have been exposed to potential fraud in a data breach at TJX Cos., about double the total estimated so far...
A sign outside the TJX Cos. headquarters is seen in this file photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007 in Framingham, Mass. At least 94 million Visa and MasterCard accounts may have been exposed to potential...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

To Get New Credit Card: Pay Off Expired Debt?

Mastercard, Visa to Use Purchases in Ad Targeting?

WikiLeaks to Stop Leaking

Hackers Shut Down MasterCard Site—Again

Big Citi Hack Reveals Ugly Truth About Banks


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne