[ISN] DSW Shoe Warehouse Reports Customer Data Theft

[InfoSec News]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17831-2005Mar8.html

By Jonathan Stempel
Reuters
March 8, 2005

Retail Ventures Inc., Tuesday announced the theft of credit card and
purchase data of customers at 103 of its 175 DSW Shoe Warehouse stores
and said some fraudulent activity has been conducted since the theft.

The theft is the latest reported instance in recent weeks in which
customers' personal data was stolen or lost. Other companies to report
such problems include Bank of America Corp. and ChoicePoint Inc.,
where the thefts involved thousands of individuals' data.

Columbus, Ohio-based Retail Ventures said customer data was stolen
mainly over the past three months, though it was unable to say how
many customers were affected. It said it discovered the theft late
last week.

Those who provided data via DSW's Web site were unaffected, the
company said.

"Credit card companies have alerted us there is some fraudulent
activity," said Julie Davis, the general counsel for Retail Ventures.

Davis said Retail Ventures believes a "hacker" conducted the theft,
and that only the stolen credit card data put customers at the risk of
fraudulent activity.

She said an outside computer security firm is expected to conclude its
investigation of the matter within two weeks and that the U.S. Secret
Service is also investigating.

Customers who believe their data were stolen should call their banks,
Davis told Reuters.

Retail Ventures is reviewing its technology systems and working with
credit card companies and issuers to address the matter. It set up a
hotline for customers with questions, at 1-800-314-0224.

Retail Ventures operates DSW stores in major U.S. metropolitan areas,
as well as 26 Filene's Basement stores in the U.S. Northeast and 119
Value City department stores in mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeastern
states. Filene's and Value City customers are unaffected, Davis said.

Retail Ventures reported aggregate sales of about $217 million at DSW
for the three months ended Feb. 26.

Retail Ventures shares fell 6 cents to $7.30 on the New York Stock
Exchange. It announced the theft after U.S. markets closed.