Goodwill investigating possible data breach

Goodwill Industries International said an investigation is underway over a possible theft of customer credit card numbers.

The nonprofit said federal authorities and a payment card industry fraud investigative unit told Goodwill on Friday that “select” U.S. stores could have been hit by a data breach. The Rockville, Md., nonprofit has more than 2,900 retail stores.

The thrift store chain said an investigation is ongoing, but no breach has been confirmed.

Data breaches have garnered headlines recently as they hit large U.S. companies including Target Corp. Millions of consumers have had their financial secrets exposed in the past year.

The threat extends beyond big business -- smaller independent shops have been hit by cyber theft as well, according to a California database.

Goodwill Industries said it is working with federal authorities on the investigation and that, if a data breach is uncovered, it will work with local Goodwills to take “appropriate actions.”

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