TL;DR: Canada Computers & Electronics says guest checkouts made online between December 29 and January 22 were exposed to unauthorized access, including personal details and credit card information. Customers who logged in with a member account and in-store shoppers were not affected. Affected customers are being offered two years of credit monitoring. If you checked out as a guest in that window, call your card issuer and ask for a new card.
What happened
Canada Computers is a Canadian electronics retailer with about 30 stores, mainly in Ontario, Quebec and BC. According to TEISS, the company learned of the breach on January 22 and started notifying customers on January 25, after revising dates it had first given.
Who is affected
| Shopper | Affected? |
|---|---|
| Online guest checkout, Dec 29 to Jan 22 | Yes |
| Online, logged into a member account | No, per the company |
| In-store purchase | No, per the company |
The company describes the number affected as "small" or "limited," without a figure. An independent forensic firm is investigating how it happened.
Yes, this is the rare case where being lazy and not making an account was the wrong call. Usually it’s the opposite.
What was exposed
Personal details entered during guest checkout (think name, address, email, phone) plus the credit card details used. That combination is what card fraudsters want.
What to do
- Call your card issuer using the number on the back of your card. Tell them about the breach and ask for a replacement card.
- Check statements from late December onward for small "test" charges, which often come before big ones.
- Sign up for the two years of credit monitoring offered in the notification.
- Watch for phishing. Fake "refund for the breach" emails are a classic follow-up. Canada Computers won’t need your card number again to send you anything.
- Report card fraud to your issuer first, then to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Card fraud is usually reversible
Unauthorized credit card charges reported promptly are generally reversed by issuers. The bigger risk is the personal data that came with the card. Run a free exposure check to see where else your email turns up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was affected by the Canada Computers data breach?
Customers who used online guest checkout between December 29 and January 22.
Were in-store customers affected?
No. The company says in-store purchases and logged-in member accounts were not affected.
Was credit card information stolen?
Yes. Personal details and associated credit card information from guest checkouts were exposed.
Is Canada Computers offering credit monitoring?
Yes, two years of credit monitoring and identity protection for impacted customers.