Friday, March 30, 2007

Darn that TJ Maxx

Today I got an email from my bank alerting me that I was going to get a new debit card, pin and access numbers next week. All this because I am considered “medium risk.” My debit card number had been compromised, by who? The email didn’t say. Me being the curious type promptly called them up and asked which merchant had compromised my information? After some hemming and hawing they said TJX.

Knowing a little something about the identity theft issue I was slightly taken back. First, the TJX (owner of TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Home Goods, etc) data breach was all over the news in January 07…why is it I am not hearing about it until the end of March? Second, if I recall they only told the public in January 07, the actual data had been taken months before that in 2006.

Well they had a fantastic answer to that. They said had I been “high risk” they would have told me sooner. That gave me a little chuckle.

Apparently, today the information came out that 47.5 million people are affected by this data breach.

So, sorry to complain on and on, but this affected me, most the women I know have shopped at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s (even my mom – who probably won’t have except she forgot her bathing suit on the trip to the Cape). So I wanted to share. But not only that, I want to give you tips from CU’s ID Theft Campaign and a way to make a difference.

Also, remember to keep a close eye on your credit report and your finance statements. Some states don’t have notice of breach laws so you may never know if your data is stolen.

Finally, since this is a phlog here is a photo of the last item I purchased at a TJ Maxx – my all time favorite luggage set.

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