Retail chains TJX Companies, Marshal’s, and other retail stores and restaurants were victims of one of the biggest hacking schemes ever.
A Miami resident who pleaded guilty to 19 Federal counts of computer fraud, wire fraud, access device fraud, conspiracy and identity theft was part of a gang that hacked into store computers stealing up to 40 million credit and debit card numbers.
The conspiracy started with the defendants driving around the retainers’ parking lots until they located an unsecured internet connection. Once found, they proceeded to enter into the retailers network and obtained card numbers and at times the pin numbers of debit cards.
The credit or debit card information was then used to make cards that were sold as prepaid debit cards. Some card information was used to withdraw money from ATM’s. Magnetic strips were also produced to store the stolen information and used for purchases at other stores.
Signs that should alert retail stores to possible fraud are large amounts of orders coming from one computer or items requesting to be delivered to one address under multiple names.
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