Cdn. Retailer Club Monaco May Have Had A Privacy Breach
Posted January 26, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
First Winners and HomeSense, now Club Monaco.
The Canadian fashion retailer is the latest to possibly have security problems relating to its customers’ credit card information.
Store officials have called the RCMP to look into whether it suffered a privacy breach at 28 locations.
Club Monaco has called in a forensic team to help police with their investigation.
Banks and card issuers have apparently been told about the potential hazard and they’re checking their client information for any suggestion of fraud.
It’s the third major headache for consumers in the past 14 days.
Last week, the U.S. parent company of discount stores Winners and HomeSense, TJX Cos., announced that it had been the victim of a widespread security breach affecting millions of customers around the globe.
And many are simply fed up.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” fumes Janet Kelly. “How could their systems be breached like that?”
Like in the TJX case, the company found out about the sudden lapse last year, but didn’t issue a public statement. Under the law, they’re not required to.
And no one knows how many customers may have been affected or if thieves really did get information ranging from credit card numbers to license information.
Advocates are equally upset. “These guys all have big tech departments …Why is this happening? Do you really need all that information?” wonders Eleanor Friedland of the Consumers Council of Canada.
But despite the repeated problems, it’s not likely anything will change, because Canadians love using their plastic.
Interac processed 2.8 billion purchases in 2004 and it may be hard to change old habits.
Many vow to continue using their cards while being a lot more watchful of where the information goes.
“I still think you’re better off using a credit card or a debit card but I certainly check my records more carefully than I did before,” assures Sharon Ferris.
So how can you protect yourself?
Using cash is the easiest method. Always keep your receipts, change the PIN on your accounts on a regular basis and limit the amount of personal information you give to a retailer.
And hope their security is up to the challenge.
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