T.J. Maxx, Marshalls Customers may have had Credit Data Exposed

Banks and credit card companies are moving to notify their customers to watch for fraudulent activity after the parent company of retailers Marshalls and T.J. Maxx disclosed thefts of customer data from its computer system, according to the Associated Press.

TJX Cos. said that hackers had gained access to the system that handles credit and debit card transactions, as well as checks and merchandise returns for customers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and may involve customer accounts from the U.K. and Ireland.

Bank of America, Visa, and American Express are all notifying customers to monitor their accounts for incorrect activity.

TJX did not say how many accounts were potentially affected, but the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that as many as 40 million customers could be impacted.