A 2008 report on a Hannaford supermarket data breach affecting millions of shoppers. The hack compromised credit and debit cards at roughly 1,800 known victims so far, with the CEO advising customers to monitor statements and expect replacement cards in the mail.
Millions of people could be affected by a big breach tonight. A supermarket chain says credit card numbers may have landed in the wrong hands. This breach leading to credit concerns for people who shop at Hannaford's. It has stores across New England. The Night Team's Dan Housley is live at a store in Waltham with details for us. Dan?
Well, the credit card crooks apparently got the numbers after people swiped their cards. Hannaford says they were swiped during the credit authorization process. They say that no names or addresses were gotten, but the crooks got enough to steal your cash. Some customers are already changing their ways at the checkout when it comes to the question of using paper or plastic.
I used to pay with my card all the time, and when I heard it, I got really nervous, and I went to the bank machine and got my cash out. I'm not very pleased.
It's just a little disheartening, makes you lose some faith, you know. Hannaford says millions of customers who use credit or debit cards at any of its grocery stores in the last 4 months may have had their numbers swiped. The chain's CEO released a statement saying, "We sincerely regret any concern or inconvenience this has caused. We have taken aggressive steps to augment our network security capabilities." Hannaford says it knows about 1,800 victims so far. Jim Mayo wonders if he's one of them. Jim found ATM charges from Eastern Europe on one credit card statement and unauthorized internet sales on another card, both used at the grocery store.
It was gut-wrenching, you know, when it first happened, and I had to go through a lot of hoops with the credit credit card company.
Last year, TJX settled a lawsuit over the biggest data breach ever at hundreds of its clothing stores. Security experts say Hannaford customers need to watch their credit card statements closely to make sure they're not hit.
Many people don't really pay close attention to the credit card statement. They look at the minimum balance, they pay it, and then they move on. Those people are the ones that are going to be most likely affected.
And the credit card companies and the banks will generally cover your losses if you catch it within 60 days. And don't be surprised if you get a new credit card in the mail soon, as the companies try to head off any theft in the future. We're live in Waltham, Dan Housley, 7 News, 19—
