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11 Charged In TJX, Other Breaches
coondoggie writes "The Justice Department has charged 11 people in connection with the massive theft of credit card numbers from various retailers, including TJX, BJs and OfficeMax. Authorities say the group charged was involved in the theft of more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers. In an indictment returned today by a federal grand jury in Boston, Albert 'Segvec' Gonzalez, of Miami, was charged with computer fraud, wire fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy for his role in the scheme. Others indicted are from the US, Estonia, China, and Belarus." We've been following the TJX breach since the beginning.
guys like this get caught, this is why I seldom do anything important off wire, even on my own wireless network...
"The indictment alleges that during the course of the sophisticated conspiracy, Gonzalez and his co-conspirators obtained the credit and debit card numbers by "wardriving" and hacking into the wireless computer networks of major retailers - including TJX Companies, BJ's Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, Boston Market, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, Forever 21 and DSW."
If your going to offer a service for the love of God do at least something to make it safe, wide open wireless as a 'perk' is like led tainted lemon aid.
"Ahh! Arrogance and stupidity in the same package, how efficient of you!" --Londo Molari
Except that as long as you keep yourself covered by reporting fraud early, you don't get charged for those purchases that were not yours. Being responsible with a credit card is the answer, not burying your head in the sand.
How easy would it be to get fiscally wiped out by this kind of thing?
I've had a credit card "compromised" twice over the last ~10 years. In the first case, I noticed the fraudulent charges on my statement and contacted the card issuer. They promptly reversed every single one of the charges and my liability was zero. In the second case, the card issuer actually phoned me to ask about a series of suspicious charges. My statement wasn't even due to arrive for another couple weeks. When I told them I had not made the purchases in question, then promptly reversed every single one of the charges and my liability was zero.
IMO the real risk is identity theft - when a scammer gets hold of enough of your info to open accounts in your name, apply for credit, etc. It's never happened to me but I've heard it's a real nightmare to get corrected when it happens. Having a credit card may or may not make you more vulnerable to identity theft. I make it a policy to use a shredder on any paperwork that could potentially be used to build a profile on me ... nothing goes straight into the trash.
If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
The shredder is good advice. Also make sure your physmail gets delivered to something that locks, like a PO box or an apartment mailbox. Mail theft from those Leave It To Beaver on-street mailboxes is a real problem.