Home Depot Suffers Possible Data Breach, Tries to Ease Customer Fears The world's largest home improvement retailer may be the latest victim of a credit and debit card breach.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

More saving, more doing. And, now, more hacking fears, this time at your neighborhood Home Depot.

The world's largest home improvement retailer is scrambling this morning to make heads or tails of a possible credit and debit card data breach. The news of a potential cyber attack on its payment systems first surfaced yesterday afternoon.

Related: Protect Yourself: Turn On This Security Feature in Your Mobile Banking App

The Atlanta-based company said in a statement to customers today that it still isn't sure if a breach actually occurred or not. However, if its payment systems were actually compromised, Home Depot says its customers won't be liable for potentially bogus charges. Updates on the situation were also released via Home Depot's Twitter and Facebook accounts.

"We're looking into some unusual activity that might indicate a possible payment data breach and we're working with our banking partners and law enforcement to investigate," the company said on its corporate website. "We know that this news may be concerning and we apologize for the worry this can create."

Home Depot Suffers Possible Data Breach, Tries to Ease Customer Fears

Image credit: Home Depot via Facebook

Home Depot, which has 2,200 retail stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, assures customers that they will be notified immediately if a breach is confirmed. In the meantime, it advises customers to closely monitor their payment card accounts for unusual activity. As with the recent UPS Store breach, credit monitoring will be offered to potentially impacted customers.

Related: Apple Confirms Some Celeb Accounts Were Breached in Nude Photo Scandal

For those who have questions, Home Depot asks that you call its Customer Care line at 1-800-HOMEDEPOT.

The company has not yet responded to Entrepreneur.com's request for comment.

Home Depot could be the latest victim in a string of sophisticated payment system hacks targeting major retail chains. Major stores recently hacked include UPS Store, Target, Neiman Marcus, Michaels, Goodwill, Albertson's and SuperValu.

Related: Russian Hacking Ring Steals More Than a Billion Passwords

Kim Lachance Shandrow

Former West Coast Editor

Kim Lachance Shandrow is the former West Coast editor at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was a commerce columnist at Los Angeles CityBeat, a news producer at MSNBC and KNBC in Los Angeles and a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times. She has also written for Government Technology magazine, LA Yoga magazine, the Lowell Sun newspaper, HealthCentral.com, PsychCentral.com and the former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Coop. Follow her on Twitter at @Lashandrow. You can also follow her on Facebook here

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

Your Startup Seems On Track — But An Invisible Growth Blocker Says Otherwise

Your startup may seem on track, but an invisible growth blocker in your tech or team could be quietly holding you back from scaling successfully.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Baby Boomers Over 75 Are Getting Richer, Causing a 'Massive' Wealth Divide, According to a New Report

A new paper outlines the three factors driving the generational wealth divide. Here's how some baby boomers keep getting richer.

Business News

Starbucks Bets Big on Protein Cold Foam, Protein Lattes Hitting Menus This Month: 'Growing Consumer Demand'

Starbucks announced on Tuesday that the coffee giant is "all in" on protein.

Buying / Investing in Business

From a $120M Acquisition to a $1.3T Market

Co-ownership is creating big opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Buying / Investing in Business

Big Investors Are Betting on This 'Unlisted' Stock

You can join them as an early-stage investor as this company disrupts a $1.3T market.