Eleven suspects have been charged with stealing over 40 million credit and debit card numbers and then selling them. They allegedly hacked into the computer systems of many U.S. retailers to install software that gave them access to account information and passwords. Three of the suspects charged in this identity theft case are U.S. citizens, and the others are from China, Estonia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
The method the alleged thieves used involved driving through neighborhoods and hacking into wireless equipment to obtain credit card numbers, passwords, and other account information. Several major retailers were targeted, including TJ Maxx, Barnes & Noble, and OfficeMax. This case definitely exposes our vulnerability to identity theft with the compromise of personal information.
The Department of Justice is calling this the largest and most complex identity theft case that resulted in charges being brought. My guess is the total cost of damages to the targeted businesses and their customers is still unknown. If you think you might be an identity theft victim as a result of these crimes being charged, do not hesitate to contact your bank.
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