New York, NY: Neiman Marcus is the latest target of a data breach, hot on the heels of the massive Target data breach reported in December. Although the luxury department store has yet to disclose exactly how many of its customers are affected, it has said that the data breach affected customers who shopped in its retail stores, not online. Neiman Marcus operates 79 retail locations in the United States.
According to Neiman Marcus chief executive Karen Katz, customers' Social Security numbers and birth dates were not taken. Katz said Neiman Marcus does not collect credit card PIN data.
It was mid-December when Neiman Marcus was first notified of potentially fraudulent activity on its customers' cards. It subsequently hired a forensic investigator who discovered evidence of the data breach on January 1. The retailer notified consumers on January 10, 2014.
Neiman Marcus is advising customers to check their payment card statements and report any suspicious activity to their card issuer. Customers with a Neiman Marcus card should call their local store or the retailer' credit card division.