If you picked up building materials or tools at The Home Depot between April and September and paid with a credit card, check your statements carefully. The company has confirmed that malware planted in its computer system allowed some credit-card numbers to be stolen when the cards were swiped at the checkout.
The company has a total of 2266 retail stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Guam, and the U.S.Virgin Islands. The problem could potentially affect customers at any of its U.S. and Canadian stores, but Home Depot said the problem apparently didn’t involve online sales or retail stores in Mexico, and there is no evidence that debit PIN numbers were compromised.
In a Sept. 8 statement, the company apologized for the breach and said customers would not be responsible for fraudulent charges posted to their accounts. Home Depot is offering free identity-protection services, including credit monitoring, to anyone who used a credit card from April 2014 forward.
To take advantage of the offer, go to the company’s website or call 1-800-466-3337.
Home Depot said it began looking into the problem on Sept. 2 after being warned by banks and law enforcement that its computer system may have been hacked.
Because of the increased risk of cyber attacks against retailers, Home Depot said it would roll out EMV-chip card technology by the end of the year, well in advance of the October 2015 deadline set by the credit-card industry.
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Shop at The Home Depot lately? If so, check your credit card statements carefully. The company comfirms its computer system was hacked.
