Consumers who shopped at Target stores between November 27 and December 15 -- right in the thick of the high-volume holiday shopping season -- should check their credit card statements for any unusual activity.
On Thursday, the retail chain acknowledged of a hack that obtained the names, credit or debit card numbers, expiration dates, and three-digit security codes of store customers who purchased items over the past few weeks, including the Black Friday weekend. Around 40 million credit and debit card accounts may have been affected by the attack.
The issue that let the hacker gain access to customer data has been identified and resolved, according to Target. The company said that it's working with law enforcement officials to track down those responsible for the attack and has hired a third-party forensic team to investigate the incident.
In an FAQ to customers potentially affected, Target explained that the data breach is a concern for those who made purchases at a Target store in the US between November 27 and December 15. People who bought items through Target's Web site or at a retail store in Canada are safe, according to the company. Target Redcard holders who suspect a fraudulent charge on their card should contact Target; other customers should call their bank, Target advised.
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