Click on picture to Zoom

How safe is it to swipe?

Apparently a report filed by David Willis in the Asbury Park Press would want you to think twice.

Reportedly, between 2005-06 hackers accessed computer data at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. Those two stores are known to all in the Bayshore.

TJX Cos. Inc., the owner of these stores declared the incident in 2007 and is now paying 11 states a total $9.75 million to settle an investigation into its data security practices after hackers stole customer data.

Not bad for the cash strapped treasury. New Jersey gets $431,609 in the settlement.

The losers are unsuspecting customers whose names, addresses, social security numbers, military identification numbers and driver's license numbers are now in possession of the hackers. So Bayshore beware! Watch your money and report any unauthorized purchases to proper authorities immediately.

However, the report did mention that there is no indication that New Jersey consumers were the victims of identity theft as a result of either breach in 2005 or 2006.

But better safe than sorry, is what I say.