HBC says its Saks stores has had data breached

TORONTO — Hudson’s Bay Co. is the latest Canadian company to possibly have customer credit card data stolen.

For now, HBC is asking clients to review their account statements for activity or transactions they don’t recognize.

The company said it’s investigating and taking steps to contain the attack, and clients will not be responsible for any fraudulent charges as a result of the breach.

The company says it is possible some customer payment card information may have been stolen from shoppers at certain Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Off Fifth and Lord & Taylor stores in North America, which Hudson’s Bay owns.

A spokesperson for the retailer would not comment on whether any specific Canadian locations were affected, but did say there is no indication the breach affects any of HBC’s stores, such as its Home Outfitters locations.

HBC released little information on the breach itself on Sunday, but a New York-based cybersecurity firm said it had analyzed the available data and found that information from five-million credit cards had been compromised.

Gemini Advisory LLC said in a report that the information was stolen from 83 Saks Fifth Avenue or Saks Off Fifth stores, and from all Lord & Taylor locations.

The firm found that three Canadian Saks locations were exposed to the breach: Sherway Gardens in Toronto, Bramalea City Centre in Brampton and Pickering Town Centre.

Dmitry Chorine, the co-founder of Gemini Advisory, said his firm works to improve response to data breach.