Credit card hackers go upscale, steal Neiman Marcus customers’ info
By Chris Morran January From Consumerist
If you live under the delusion that paying too much at the department store would somehow result in a higher level of security, prepare to have your mind blown. The folks at upscale retailer Neiman Marcus have revealed that hackers compromised credit and debit card information for an unknown number of customers.
Cybersecurity expert and journalist Brian Krebs was once again out in front of this story, reporting last night that a number of fraudulent card charges at various stores had all been traced back to accounts that had been used at Neiman Marcus.
The retailer confirmed to Krebs that it had been victimized by a hack in mid-December and that it was working with the Treasury Dept.’s Secret Service to investigate the attack. A rep for Neiman says it still doesn’t know the full scope and duration of the breach, but that only customers at bricks-and-mortar Neiman Marcus locations appear to have been compromised:
“Neiman Marcus was informed by our credit card processor in mid-December of potentially unauthorized payment card activity that occurred following customer purchases at our Neiman Marcus Group stores.
We informed federal law enforcement agencies and are working actively with the U.S. Secret Service, the payment brands, our credit card processor, a leading investigations, intelligence and risk management firm, and a leading forensics firm to investigate the situation. On January 1st, the forensics firm discovered evidence that the company was the victim of a criminal cyber-security intrusion and that some customers’ cards were possibly compromised as a result. We have begun to contain the intrusion and have taken significant steps to further enhance information security.
The security of our customers’ information is always a priority and we sincerely regret any inconvenience. We are taking steps, where possible, to notify customers whose cards we know were used fraudulently after making a purchase at our store.”
PHOTO: (Adam Fagen)
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Related story:
Target: Data breach affected 70 million customers
From Moneynews
Target said last week that personal information — including phone numbers and email and mailing addresses — was stolen from as many as 70 million customers in its pre-Christmas data breach. That was substantially more customers than Target had previously said were affected.
The chain also indicated its sales have been hurt by the breach, cutting its forecast for fourth-quarter earnings and a key sales barometer.
Its stock slipped in premarket trading.
Target Corp. announced in December that about 40 million credit and debit cards may have been affected by a data breach that happened between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 — just as the holiday shopping season was getting into gear. But the net has now been cast wider, with more shoppers potentially impacted.
The company told customers Friday that its investigation of the breach has shown that personal information had also been stolen and more customers were affected.
“I know that it is frustrating for our guests to learn that this information was taken and we are truly sorry they are having to endure this,” Chairman, President and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said in a statement.
The company said customers won’t be liable for the cost of any fraudulent charges that stemmed from the breach.
It’s also offering a year of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection to customers that shopped at its stores. Individuals will have three months to enroll in the program, which Target said it will provide more details next week.
Target lowered its fourth-quarter adjusted earnings guidance to a range of $1.20 to $1.30 per share, down from $1.50 to $1.60 per share.
Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect earnings of $1.24 per share.
The Minneapolis company also said that it now foresees fourth-quarter sales at stores open at least a year will be down about 2.5 percent. It previously predicted those sales would be about flat.
Target cautioned that its fourth-quarter financials may include charges related to the data breach. The chain said the costs tied to the breach may have a material adverse effect on its quarterly results as well as future periods.
Shares of Target declined 84 cents to $62.50 before the market open.
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