US was rocked with the biggest Identity theft ( Credit Card Scam) till date where credit and debit card details of about 40 million people were allegedly stolen for mis-use.
The biggest source of the information was from Shops and Bank computer systems, and the information was hacked using softwares.
This did not stop there, the stolen numbers were sold on the internet, making a mockery of the IT security and online surveillence mechanism. Showing some stringent control over personal data security and anonymity. There is a high need to educate the credit card holders who use un-secure ways to transact ( online or offline). Some guidlines issued by the government and the public displays would certainly help in this regard.
11 people in connection with the theft are been charged till now by the US autorities.
CNN reports :
An international group of hackers is accused of breaking into nine retailers’ networks and stealing more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers.
Eleven people, including three U.S. citizens, were indicted Tuesday on a number of charges in connection with the hacking of nine major U.S. retailers and the theft and sale of more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers, federal authorities said.
