OfficeMax at center of major data-security breach with debit cards

[RamboLiberal]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/14/BUGGQH7QK21.DTL

OfficeMax is the Northern California retailer at the heart of a major data-security breach affecting as many as 200,000 consumers, banking and law-enforcement sources confirmed Monday.

They also said investigators are exploring the possibility that the Russian mob or another Eastern European crime syndicate is responsible for accessing U.S. consumers' debit-card numbers and selling counterfeit cards on the black market worldwide.

<snip>

Numerous banks have replaced customers' debit cards in recent weeks, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Washington Mutual.

<snip>

It's unclear when the OfficeMax hack actually occurred. Banking industry sources say they believe authorities were made aware of the situation in December.

But they acknowledge that consumers' personal info could have been endangered well before this time.

[bluerum]

1. Yes - get this one from The Boston Globe too:

<snip>

February 2, 2006

Important Notice Regarding Your Personal Information.

Dear Subscriber,

The Boston Globe and the Worcester Telegram, & Gazette are notifying you as one of our home delivery subscribers who pay by credit or bank card that certain customers' card numbers, along with the card expiration dates and customers names were inadvertently disclosed on the back of distribution slips distributed with newspaper bundles that were sent to retailers and newspaper carriers in the Worcester area this past Sunday, January 29th. The Worcester Telegram and Gazette is also notifying their subscribers that certain bank routing information was also inadvertently released on some of these distribution slips. Bank or credit card data for approximately 212,000 customers may have been released and your personal information may have been among that data.

</snip>

Whoa,,, thank you Boston Globe.

When are we going to get some legislative protection for this kind of blatant incompetence and disregard for safeguarding our personal information.

[ebayfool]

2. Washington Mutual ... that explains the new cards!

They didn't mention why they were switching over - this explains alot! I think I'll be giving OfficeMax a wide berth for awhile, though!