CONSUMER ALERT
TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a
consumer alert following the recent theft of data from the Tampa-based
Sweetbay Supermarket chain and its sister company, Maine-based
Hannaford Brothers. At least 1,800 customers have reported being the
victims of fraud as a result of the data breach. Consumers who used
credit or debit cards at the 106 Sweetbay stores in Florida between
December 2007 and March 10, 2008 should closely review their accounts
for unauthorized charges and monitor their bank and credit card
statements, McCollum cautioned.
"The large number of fraud reports related to this data breach
emphasizes that real people are being harmed," McCollum said. "I
encourage all Floridians to be aware and active in protecting
themselves against fraud and identity theft and to recognize that
data breaches of this magnitude are becoming more common."
Sweetbay and Hannaford Brothers, both owned by Belgium-based
Delhaize Group, S.A., reported Monday that their computer systems were
hacked in December 2007. Credit card and debit card account numbers
were stolen in connection with 4.2 million customer purchases.
Company officials believe hackers broke into the systems and captured
data during part of the payment process at check-out.
Although company officials say customer name and address
information was not part of the stolen data, Attorney General McCollum
cautions that consumers should not let their guard down as the
investigation continues. While the number of Florida consumers
potentially affected is unconfirmed, some reports indicate 1.6 million
Sweetbay transactions are at issue. Most Sweetbay stores are in the
greater Tampa Bay area with stores extending to Naples, Lakeland and
Crystal River.
All Sweetbay customers should promptly review statements and
transactions during the four-month period in question to check for
unusual activity and report fraudulent charges to banks or credit
card issuers for investigation, reversal, or card reissuance. Company
officials are expected to prominently display in-store notices of the
breach, and the Attorney General’s Office is monitoring compliance.
Affected consumers may call Sweetbay's toll-free special assistance
Consumers who believe they may have been a victim of identity
theft related to this or any other data breach are encouraged to
contact the Attorney General’s Fraud Hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM
(1-866-966-7226). Other steps to take include contacting police,
and requesting that the national credit bureaus place a fraud alert
on your credit report. Notify banks and creditors involved of
questionable charges or accounts, keep records of all telephone calls
and follow up in writing with credit bureaus, banks and creditors.
For additional tips on combating identity theft, log onto the Attorney
