May 9, 2005

Due to a security breach in the U.S, the HSBC has had to distribute 180,000 letters to its customers here in the U.K. The breach was caused when the credit card information of customers who had used their in was stolen from the retailer that MasterCard customers had used their in.

Though officially HSBC would not release which store had been the victim of this theft, the British bank has seen the release of an article on the Internet edition of The Wall Street Journal, on who did loose the details of the customers, were they have stated that they have had contact with people who have fallen foul of the theft and claimed the retailer involved was the Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. Though the New York based company, were unavailable for comment.

A spokesperson from the HSBC, was at pains to reassure that the breach, was not forthcoming from they’re end of the credit card transactions, but came from the retailers end and that they were the sole problem for this breach of credit card details. The spokesperson also said that HSBC needed the let its MasterCard customers now as soon as possible, of the chance of any problems that the breach of the credit card details may cause.

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MasterCard in the U.K when asked if they were up to date with the security breach, said that they were not aware with what had happened in the U.S, but pointed out that it was automatic that the credit card issuer of the card involved, would let all of its credit card holders know and inform them of the problem, since it is the banks prerogative, to re-issue or to deal with ant problems that they my incur. They also were pleased that the HSBC were dealing with the problem, which the security breach in the U.S had caused.

The Wall Street Journal report also stated that other might be affected by the theft of customer’s credit card details and not just HSBC MasterCard, though the U.K office of the Visa International Inc would only say that it was a matter for they’re U.S office.

Security breaches are starting to be a worrying trend and this breach of credit card details, is just another one added to the list and follows on from the announcement, of a high profile date theft from the LexisNexis group, could effect in the region of 310,000 credit card customers.