The Home Depot (“HD”) recently alerted customers that its payment data systems had been breached
by criminals that hacked into their system earlier this year. The breach affects customers that made purchases using payment cards at the HD stores located in the United States and Canada from April 2014 forward. HD launched an investigation into the breach
on September 2, 2014, after being notified by their banking partners and law enforcement that their payment data systems had been hacked.
Data that may have been compromised includes payment card information such as cardholder’s name, credit card number, expiration date, and card verification value/ code. While the corporation is still investigating the full scope of the breach, there is no
evidence that debit PIN numbers were affected.
In response to the breach of information, HD has stated it is taken aggressive steps to address malware and protect its customers. HD is offering a year of free identity protection services, including credit
card monitoring, to any customers who used a payment card at a HD store from April 2014 on. For more information, customers can visit HD’s website or call 1-800-HOMEDEPOT (800-466-3337).
With more and more major retailers becoming the target of security breaches and attacks, such as Target, consumers should be more careful then ever when it comes
to their personal information and monitoring their financial accounts. Business Consumer Alliance (“BCA”) offers the following tips:
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Obtain a new card
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Change your password to the account
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Monitor your financial statements carefully
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Immediately report any suspicious or unauthorized activity to your banking institution or card issuer
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Request and review your credit report and dispute any unauthorized transactions or accounts
For more information on
identity theft, including sample letters and steps to take if you have been victimized by this crime, visit BCA’s Resource Guides.
About the Author
Nicole Pitts is a Senior Business Analyst and Editor for Business Consumer Alliance. She has been with the organization for 12 years and specializes in report writing, business evaluation, and investigations. Nicole corresponds with businesses regarding
complaint trends and provides suggestions to help them alleviate problem areas that may cause concern. She also conducts advertisement reviews, reports on government enforcement actions, and assists government agencies and the media in obtaining information.
She enjoys reading, movies, and spending time with her family. Nicole can be reached by email at npitts@businessconsumeralliance.org.