Home Depot, faced with the possibility it was hacked, is assuring customers they’re off the hook if their credit card data was stolen.
If Home Depot were hacked — something it hasn’t yet confirmed publicly — shoppers “will not be responsible for any possible fraudulent charges,” the company said Wednesday.
In a statement, the home improvement store chain said it “first became aware of a potential breach” Tuesday morning.
The company is working with cybersecurity firms Symantec and FishNet Security to investigate the virtual break-in.
An investigative reporter who first broke the story of an alleged possible breach, Krebs, explained how he found the unconfirmed issue on his blog krebsonsecurity.com.
He also listed the Utah ZIP codes that could be affected if the alleged breach is confirmed.
84003
84014
84041
84042
84065
84070
84074
84088
84092
84098
84106
84115
84120
84121
84404
84405
84601
84701
84720
84770
84780
Although the scope of the hack isn’t yet clear, Home Depot is telegraphing signs that it occurred.
The company urged customers to “closely monitor” their bank statements.
It also promised shoppers free credit monitoring and identity theft protection.
The chain even set up a message center to keep customers updated on the latest developments.
Home Depot stated on its website,
We’re looking into some unusual activity that might indicate a possible payment data breach and we’re working with our banking partners and law enforcement to investigate. We know that this news may be concerning and we apologize for the worry this can create. If we confirm a breach has occurred, we will make sure our customers are notified immediately. For now, you should know the following:
First, you will not be responsible for any possible fraudulent charges. The financial institution that issued your card or Home Depot are responsible for those charges should we confirm a breach.
Make sure you are closely monitoring your accounts and reach out to your card issuer should you notice any unusual activity.
If we confirm a breach, we will offer free identity protection services, including credit monitoring, to any potentially impacted customers.
We’re working hard to get you the information you need as quickly as possible and will continue to provide updates as we learn more.
If you have any questions, please call Home Depot Customer Care at 1-800-HOMEDEPOT (1-800-466-3337).
If Home Depot were attacked by hackers, it would join the long list of companies that have lost your data in the past year: Albertson’s, Target, Michaels, Neiman Marcus, P.F. Chang’s and SuperValu.
It’s become something of an epidemic, which is why CNNMoney developed its own tool: What hackers know about you.
