About three months back we noted the Department of Justice's revelation that three hackers had managed to sneak into Dallas-based Dave & Buster's credit-card system and sneak out with customers' credit card numbers, expiration dates and security codes. Which was bad enough. Turns out, the international operation was much, much, much bigger than the feds originally noted. As in: Ever shop at a Barnes & Noble? Or eat at Boston Market? Or want to look Forever 21? Or get your balls from the Sports Authority?
Folks didn't seem to notice much when it was just D&B's getting its guests' pockets lifted. But yesterday, the Department of Justice unsealed indictments that revealed that more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers were stolen from not only Dave & Busters, but also TJX Companies, BJ’s Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, Boston Market, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, Forever 21 and DSW. Eleven men, spread from Miami to China to Belarus and points in between, are named in the indictment; three of them have ties to the Dave & Buster's thefts. Technology -- overrated? --Robert Wilonsky
