Barnes & Noble Booksellers have detected tampered PIN devices, prompting the bookstore giant to send advisories to 63 of its affected locations throughout the country, including its location in Glendora.
According to a press release issued by the company, the affected PIN pads, used to swipe debit and credit cards for payment transactions, were part of a criminal effort to steal credit card and debit card information. The scam included planted bugs in the corrupted PIN pad devices, allowing for the theft of credit card and PIN numbers.
Only credit cards or debit cards swiped at the store using one of the compromised PIN pads are at risk, say company officials.
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However, only one compromised PIN pad was detected at each location, and by close of business on Sept. 14, company officials say the corrupted PIN pads were disabled. All PIN pads in its nearly 700 stores nationwide have also been discontinued.
However, Mary Ellen Keating, spokesperson for Barnes & Noble, would not disclose how long before Sept. 14 the tampered PIN pads were in effect, citing an ongoing federal investigation.
Other affected California stores aside from Glendora include locations in Corona, Montclair, Calabasas and Temecula.
Customers who have swiped their cards using the PIN pads prior to Sept. 14 are encouraged take the following precautionary steps:
Debit card users should change the PIN numbers on their debit cards, review accounts for unauthorized transactions and notify their banks immediately if any unauthorized transactions have been detected.
Credit card users should also review their statements for unauthorized transactions and cash advances and report any suspicious situations to their banks.
According to the company press release, Barnes & Noble is working with banks and credit card issuers to identify accounts that may have been compromised.
The company claims their customer and member databases are secure and purchases on BarnesandNoble.com, NOOK and NOOK mobile apps were not affected.
For more information and updates, visit the Barnes & Noble website at www.barnesandnobleinc.com or call 1-888-471-7809, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
