I've blogged about the Cost Plus World Breach in California. Now it seems that the breach includes their stores in Arizona as well. Detectives have said that the criminals are taking out $500 at a time. Once again, I reiterate that using a HomeATM Wedgie for online purchases is eminently safer and more secure than using one provided by bricks and mortar retailers. Look for more breaches similiar to the Cost Plus World one in the near future... Several stories hit the newswire today regarding the Arizona breach. Here's one of them...
Tucson Police say the criminals replaced existing counter card pin pads with their own, then later came back and switched them again, gaining access to consumers card and pin information. He explained that the scammers will replace PIN pads left on the counter with their own PIN pad. "Their PIN pad looks the same, but stores the credit card information," Musick said.
"Once the fraudulent PIN pad has been used, the scammers will come back and retrieve it and its stored information."
Information from Cost Plus customers' debit and credit cards has been used to make counterfeit debit cards, he said. "Be very cautious of using PIN pads left out on the counter like that," Musick said. "They can be unplugged and replaced within three seconds."
Shoppers at the Cost Plus World Market on East Broadway in March or April most likely had their credit or debit card information stolen, police said Monday. The problem started in California, where the company reported in July that customer information was taken from eight stores in February, March and April.
Musick said the information retrieved from Tucson customers' debit cards has been used at ATMs in the Phoenix area and in California. He said the scammers are taking out around $500 at a time. Musick said Vantage West Credit Union in Tucson first noticed that its customers' cards were compromised and brought it to the attention of the Tucson Police Department. Police are collecting information for use in a federal case.
Cost Plus customers who have had problems with their checking account are encouraged to discuss them with their banks. Musick said local banks are collecting information about which customers have been compromised and are passing that information on to authorities.
Cost Plus customers who have had problems with their checking account are encouraged to discuss them with their banks. Musick said local banks are collecting information about which customers have been compromised and are passing that information on to authorities.
