Irish shoppers at discount retailers TK Maxx may have had their payment card details stolen by hackers who managed to break into the company's computer system.
Sherry Lang, a spokeswomen for TK Maxx's US parent company, TJX, confirmed last night that two files stolen from the company's computer system in 2006 may have contained the credit and debit card numbers of Irish customers. However, because of "technology" used by the hackers, the company is unable to ascertain exactly what information was contained in the stolen files.
"We do know that it did not include personal identification numbers at all, no names, no addresses, only - if anything - payment card numbers," she said.
In a statement posted on TJX's website yesterday, Paul Sweetenham, the European head of TJX, expressed his regret over the security breach.
"We are fortunate that a number of years ago, the payment card industry in the UK and Ireland began the transition to 'chip-and-pin' technology for payment cards, which we believe provides an added measure of security for our customers," he said.
Ms Lang said the company was investigating the security breach, and was working with law enforcement agencies "internationally".
TK Maxx has eight outlet stores in the Republic, and 10 further stores in Northern Ireland.
The theft affecting Irish and UK customers is understood to be separate to a theft of the details of up to 45.7 million cards of US customers from TJX.
