http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17831-2005Mar8.html By Jonathan Stempel Reuters March 8, 2005 Retail Ventures Inc., Tuesday announced the theft of credit card and purchase data of customers at 103 of its 175 DSW Shoe Warehouse stores and said some fraudulent activity has been conducted since the theft. The theft is the latest reported instance in recent weeks in which customers' personal data was stolen or lost. Other companies to report such problems include Bank of America Corp. and ChoicePoint Inc., where the thefts involved thousands of individuals' data. Columbus, Ohio-based Retail Ventures said customer data was stolen mainly over the past three months, though it was unable to say how many customers were affected. It said it discovered the theft late last week. Those who provided data via DSW's Web site were unaffected, the company said. "Credit card companies have alerted us there is some fraudulent activity," said Julie Davis, the general counsel for Retail Ventures. Davis said Retail Ventures believes a "hacker" conducted the theft, and that only the stolen credit card data put customers at the risk of fraudulent activity. She said an outside computer security firm is expected to conclude its investigation of the matter within two weeks and that the U.S. Secret Service is also investigating. Customers who believe their data were stolen should call their banks, Davis told Reuters. Retail Ventures is reviewing its technology systems and working with credit card companies and issuers to address the matter. It set up a hotline for customers with questions, at 1-800-314-0224. Retail Ventures operates DSW stores in major U.S. metropolitan areas, as well as 26 Filene's Basement stores in the U.S. Northeast and 119 Value City department stores in mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeastern states. Filene's and Value City customers are unaffected, Davis said. Retail Ventures reported aggregate sales of about $217 million at DSW for the three months ended Feb. 26. Retail Ventures shares fell 6 cents to $7.30 on the New York Stock Exchange. It announced the theft after U.S. markets closed. _________________________________________ Bellua Cyber Security Asia 2005 - http://www.bellua.com/bcs2005
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