P.F. Chang’s is “currently investigating” claims that thousands of credit and debit card numbers had been stolen from restaurant locations across the country.
Banks first noticed the breach when thousands of stolen credit and debit cards reportedly appeared on the same online black market where million of stolen Target cards were sold last year, according to security researcher Brian Krebs.
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The cards were reportedly taken from P.F. Chang’s locations between March 2014 and May 19, 2014.
A spokesperson for the Scottsdale-based national restaurant chain did not confirm the security breach.
"P.F. Chang's takes these matters very seriously and is currently investigating the situation, working with the authorities to learn more," the company said in a statement. "We will provide an update as soon as we have additional information."
If confirmed, it would not be nearly as bad as the Target breach, which could have affected up to 110 million people. It would, however, be the largest theft since more than 200,000 cards stolen from national chain Sally Beauty were put up for sale in March.
Like with Target heist, it was not the actual stolen credit and debit cards that were sold, reported Krebs, but the data stored in the magnetic stripe located on the back of the cards. That information can sell for anywhere from $10 to more than $100 per card on the black market, depending on the quality of the data.
When acquired for $1 billion by Centerbridge Partners LP in 2012, P.F. Chang's operated 200 high-end, Asian-inspired restaurants.