Target says that about 40 million credit and debit card accounts may have been affected by a data breach that occurred just as the Christmas shopping season shifted into high gear.
The chain said that accounts of customers who made purchases by swiping their cards at terminals in its U.S. stores between Nov. 27 and Sunday may have been exposed. The stolen data include customer names, credit and debit card numbers, card expiration dates and the three-digit security codes located on the backs of cards. The data breach did not affect online purchases.
The breach affected all cards, including Target store brand cards and major card brands such as Visa and MasterCard.
The Minneapolis company said 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 and prevent future breaches. It said it is putting all "appropriate resources" toward the issue.
Target Corp. advised customers to check their statements carefully. Those who see suspicious charges on the 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.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.