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Possible data theft adds to Staples' woes [Boston Herald](Boston Herald (MA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 22--Framingham office supplies chain Staples is investigating a possible data breach, another potential obstacle for the embattled company struggling to compete against cheaper online rivals. But if the breach is relatively isolated, Staples could escape damage wrought on retailers such as Target -- which suffered a massive breach last year -- despite the timing before the holiday shopping season, analysts said. "If it's not (widespread), I don't think it will be that meaningful," said R. Scott Tilgh-man, an analyst at B. Riley & Co. "But for consumers on the margin who may be looking at holiday purchases and ... Black Friday ads, it's certainly not going to help them going into the holiday weeks." Security website Krebs on Security first reported the breach on Monday, citing multiple banks that identified credit and debit card fraud. The pattern suggests cus-tomer payment card information was stolen from several Staples stores in the Northeast, including seven in Pennsylvania, at least three in New York and one in New Jersey, Krebs reported. Staples has more than 1,800 stores. Staples said it is investi-gating a "potential issue involving credit card data" and has contacted law enforcement. "If Staples discovers an issue, it is important to note that customers are not responsible for any fraudulent activity on their credit cards that is reported on a timely basis," spokesman Mark Cautela said. Staples already has enough problems at its stores, which it has been closing by the hundreds, but not enough to offset losses, said Edward Jones & Co. analyst Brian Yarbrough. "For the last nine quarters, they've basically posted negative same-store sales growth," he said. ___ (c)2014 the Boston Herald Visit the Boston Herald at www.bostonherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |