Security breach at Sam's Club exposes credit card data

[Spinzonner]

News Story by Jaikumar Vijayan

DECEMBER 12, 2005 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Sam's Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is investigating a security breach that has exposed credit card data belonging to an unspecified number of customers who purchased gas at the wholesaler's stations between Sept 21 and Oct. 2.

In a brief statement released Dec. 2, the Bentonville, Ark.-based company said it was alerted to the problem by credit card issuers who reported that customers were complaining of fraudulent charges on their statements.

It's still not clear how the data was obtained, according to the statement. But "electronic systems and databases used inside its stores and for Samsclub.com are not involved," the company said.

Sam's Club is currently working with both Visa International Inc. and MasterCard International Inc. to investigate the breach. The company also has notified the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Arkansas and the U.S. Secret Service .

http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,107014,00.html?source=NLT_AM&nid=107014

[B3Nut]

1. What always irked me about Sam's

aside from the fact that they're part of Mal-Wart, is the fact that the only credit card they accept in the warehouse is Discover, but the gas pumps take Visa/MC (not that the Madison Sam's has gas pumps, the one back in Battle Creek did though.) I sorely wish we had a Costco in Madison...I avoid anything having to do with Mal-Wart as much as possible. Vile, putrescent detestable company!

Todd in Beerbratistan

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. I know some Okies

that like Wally World and Sam's that are quite irked by the fact that Sam's is a membersip organization and not just everyone can get a membership.

While I could care less, I must admit that they have a point. Consumers should be able to choose to shop at any business legally offering products or services for sale. The ability to do so should not be proscribed by where one works or what kind of education they have.

[Love Bug]

3. Anyone who has $35 can join Sam's club

It's not like a Credit Union where you have to qualify. Your Okies are misinformed.

[Coyote_Bandit]

6. May be true where you are

but here you have to work for a hospital or an educational institution or s government agency or have your own business or work for a business that has made arrangements for its employees to get memberships or you have to be a licensed graduate professional or you have to have a significant relationship with Wal-Mart (stock holder) or Arvest bank (major depositor in Walton family owned bank group).

Part of my job responsibilities a few years back were to make the necessary arrangements for company employees to have the opportunity to go and buy that membershp if they chose to do so.

The qualificaions for membership may have changed a bit since my experience - and they may differ from state to state based on state laws - but Sam's here does require that you qualify for membership. Or at least they used to. Maybe they were forced to change that because of its clearly discriminatory impact.

Point is, not just anybody or everybody who wanted to give them $35 bucks or so for the privilege of shopping has always had the opportunity to do so.

[medeak]

8. we have business memberships for employees

and private memberships as well at Costco...thought Sam's operated the same.

Business memberships cheaper as subsidized by employer.

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. that's because Wal-Mart

has a partnership with Discover. If you sign up for a Wal-Mart credit card you can get the option of getting a Wal-Mart Discover card.

[truthisfreedom]

4. costco is better.

[medeak]

7. another reason to shop Costco n/t