Retail chain Target said today that personal information including phone numbers and email and mailing addresses was stolen from as many as 70 million customers in its pre-Christmas data breach. That was substantially more customers than Target had previously said were affected.
The chain also indicated its sales have been hurt by the breach, cutting its forecast for fourth-quarter earnings and a key sales barometer.
Target Corp. Announced in December that about 40 million credit and debit cards may have been affected by a data breach that happened between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 just as the holiday shopping season was getting into gear.
But the net has now been cast wider, with more shoppers potentially impacted.
The company told customers today that its investigation of the breach has shown that personal information had also been stolen and more customers were affected.
"I know that it is frustrating for our guests to learn that this information was taken and we are truly sorry they are having to endure this," Chairman, President and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said in a statement.
The company said customers won't be liable for the cost of any fraudulent charges that stemmed from the breach.
It's also offering a year of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection to customers that shopped at its stores.
Individuals will have three months to enroll in the program, which Target said it will provide more details next week.
Target lowered its fourth-quarter adjusted earnings guidance to a range of USD 1.20 to USD 1.30 per share, down from USD 1.50 to USD 1.60 per share.
Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect earnings of USD 1.24 per share.
The Minneapolis company also said that it now foresees fourth-quarter sales at stores open at least a year will be down about 2.5 per cent. It previously predicted those sales would be about flat.
Target cautioned that its fourth-quarter financials may include charges related to the data breach. The chain said the costs tied to the breach may have a material adverse effect on its quarterly results as well as future periods.
