Last week, federal prosecutors revealed that an international network of hackers stole more than 40 million numbers credit and debit cards from nine different retailers. Apparently many of these retailers failed to inform their customers about the violations, despite laws that require them to do so. More than 40 states legally require companies to disclose any data breach or by letters to customers whose data have been affected, or through press releases and media announcements on the company's Web sites. Yet many companies neglect embarrassed to these ads.
TJX Companies, whose stores include Marshall's and TJ Maxx, and BJ Wholesale Club, DSW and Dave and Buster clients informed about the data breach shortly after it was discovered. But Bosten market and Forever 21 did not. Office Max, Barnes and Noble and Sports Authority refused to say if they have made disclosures customer or not, but it does not appear that they did.
OfficeMax and Barnes and Noble have denied knowledge of the violation. Forever 21 and Boston Market said that despite being warned by federal authorities, their own private investigations do not confirm that there had been a violation.
When the stores did not even bother to tell you that your credit card information has been compromised, the only real protection against identity theft is a service such as LifeLock Identity Guard or who set fraud alerts on your credit report and monitor all changes to your credit to prevent and detect identity theft. For more information on these and other services, visit our opinions identity theft protection services and comparison.