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Staples Investigating Possible Data Breach

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Staples is looking into a potential credit card data breach and has been in touch with law enforcement officials about the issue.

The office supplies retailer said Tuesday that if it turns up any data discrepancies during its investigation, customers won't be responsible for fraudulent activity on their credit cards as long as it is reported in a timely manner.

"We take the protection of customer information very seriously, and are working to resolve the situation,'' spokesman Mark Cautela said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Sears Holdings Corp. reported a breach at its Kmart stores that started last month, saying some customers' credit and debit cards may have been compromised.

Other breaches have occurred at retailers including Target Corp., Supervalu Inc. and Home Depot Inc. and Dairy Queen.

Last week, President Barack Obama said his credit card was declined while dining out in New York last month during the United Nations General Assembly. Fortunately First Lady Michelle Obama was able to whip out a credit card they could use.

"It turned out, I guess I don't use it enough," Obama said Friday at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he signed an executive order creating a new plan called BuySecure.

Cards issued by the federal government will now have an internal chip replacing magnetic strips to reduce the potential for fraud.

Obama's executive order also calls for the government to take new measures to help victims of identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission will develop a new website for consumers to report identity theft and remedy errors with credit reporting.

And Obama called on Congress to enact a single national standard for retailers to notify consumers of data breaches, to replace a patchwork of state laws. Proposals have languished in Congress.

In the wake of the massive data breaches, banks and retailers have sped the adoption of digital chips for credit and debit cards. They've set a deadline of October 2015 for wide use of chips in cards and payment terminals.

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