Ross-Simons says security breach exposes customers

April 12, 2006

Reuters

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=businessNews&storyid=2006-04-12
T074826Z_01_N12273963_RTRUKOC_0_US-RETAIL-ROSSSIMONS.xml



NEW YORK - Ross-Simons, which sells specialty merchandise through retail stores and more than 60 million catalogs each year, late on Tuesday said a security breach could allow unauthorized access to its customers' confidential financial information.

The company -- whose products includes jewelry, gifts and home decorative merchandise -- said the data breach has potential to harm individuals who had applied for its private label credit card.

Although the security snafu has been identified and corrected and the matter is under investigation, Ross-Simons said it may have exposed the private label credit card numbers and other personal information of those that had applied for the cards.

"Ross-Simons has engaged an independent third party to conduct an immediate external audit of its security procedures," the company said in a statement, as the retailer continues to notify all affected customers in order to minimize their possible risks.

Officials of the Providence, Rhode Island-based company could not immediately be reached for comment.

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