Monmouth Barnes & Noble Outlets Report PIN Pad Tampering

Barnes & Noble announced this morning that several stores, including those in Howell and Holmdel, have suffered tampering with their PIN pad devices.

The company said it discontinued the use of PIN pads in all of its outlets nationwide after the breach was discovered.

"Barnes & Noble has completed an internal investigation that involved the inspection and validation of every PIN pad in every store," a news release stated. "The tampering, which affected fewer than 1 percent of PIN pads in Barnes & Noble stores, was a sophisticated criminal effort to steal credit card information, debit card information, and debit card PIN numbers from customers who swiped their cards through PIN pads when they made a purchase.

"The company is working with banks, payment card brands and issuers to identify accounts that may have been compromised, so banks and issuers can employ enhanced fraud security measures on potentially impacted accounts," the statement added.

Four stores in New Jersey were affected: outlets in Clifton, Edison, on Route 9 in Howell and  the store on Route 35 South in Holmdel.

Customers who have swiped their cards at any of the affected stores are encouraged to take these steps provided by the company:

Debit Card Users:

• Change the PIN numbers on their debit cards;
• Review accounts for unauthorized transactions;
• Notify banks immediately if they discover any unauthorized purchases or withdrawals.

Credit Card Users:

• Review statements for any unauthorized transactions;
• Notify their card-issuing banks if they discover any unauthorized purchases or cash advances.

For more information visit the company website or call 888-471-7809.