Staples is looking into a potential credit card data breach that may have affected several stores in Pennsylvania, one in New Jersey and a few others in New York, according to financial sources.
The office supplies retailer confirmed Tuesday that it is investigating the possibility of a data breach and if it turns up any data discrepancies during its investigation, customers won't be responsible for fraudulent activity on their credit cards as long as it is reported in a timely manner.
"We take the protection of customer information very seriously, and are working to resolve the situation," spokesman Mark Cautela said in a statement.
Earlier this month Sears Holdings Corp. reported a breach at its Kmart stores that started last month, saying some customers' credit and debit cards may have been compromised. Local supermarket, ACME, was also investigating a possible security breach. Other breaches have occurred at retailers including Target Corp., Supervalu Inc. and Home Depot Inc..
Shares of Staples Inc., based in Framingham, Massachusetts, slipped 22 cents to $12.08 in premarket trading about 2 ½ hours ahead of the market open.
