Crime & Safety

Possible 40 Million Target Customers' Credit Card Info Stolen

The Secret Service is investigating a "massive data breach" at the national retail chain, spanning Black Friday until Dec. 15, according to reports.

The credit and debit card information of millions of customers could be at risk after potentialΒ data theftΒ at Target stores across the country,Β ABC7 reports.

The Secret Service is currently investigating the "massive data breach", asΒ reported by USA Today.Β 

The breach began on Black Friday, andΒ spanned until Dec. 15, according to the report. It's possible someone could have stolenΒ information stored on the magnetic stripe on the backs of cards. If a pin number was acquired, the person can then use an ATM toΒ withdraw cash from a customer's bank account. TheΒ thieves could also use the information to create counterfeit credit cards.

Target is based in Minneapolis, withΒ almost 1,800 stores in the United States and 124 in Canada, according to its website. The data theftΒ does not appear to involve online purchases.

Has anyone been affected by potential data theft at Target during this timespan?Β 

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