Credit card data thieves ring up 110 million yen

Data on about 46,000 Visa card holders have been stolen and so far, more than 110 million yen in illicit purchases have been reported, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Wednesday.

With data stolen on about 21,000 MasterCard holders, the total number of people in Japan who have had credit card data stolen now stands at 67,000, a METI survey of credit card firms indicates.

METI and industry officials said Wednesday identified losses caused by the illicit use of major credit cards issued in Japan following the data theft have exceeded 110 million yen, including 91 million yen reported on cards connected to Visa International Inc. Losses have also been reported by MasterCard International Inc. and JCB Co.