The US authorities have charged 11 people in connection with the theft of credit card details in the country's largest ever identity theft case.
They are accused of having stolen more than 40m credit and debit card numbers before selling the information on in an "international conspiracy".
They allegedly hacked into computer systems used by retailers and banks and installed software to access the data.
Retailers targeted included fashion store TJ Maxx and Barnes & Noble.
'Increasing vulnerability'
Prosecutors said the 11 people charged with stealing confidential financial information came from five different countries.
The Czech press survey ...
Euro 2008: Germany and Croatia advance to quarter-finals ... Department of Justice said the scam caused "widespread" losses among banks, retailers and ordinary consumers.
It said this was "the single largest and most complex identity theft case" ever to result in charges being brought.
"This case highlights our increasing vulnerability to the theft of personal information," said US Attorney General Michael Mukasey.
"Cases like these send a clear message to those who might be tempted to abuse our computer networks to steal information and harm law-abiding people and businesses.
"If you do, we will track you down wherever you are in the world, we will arrest you and we will send you to jail."
Law enforcement agencies around the world, including in Turkey and Germany, co-operated with the investigation.
The government has tried to better co-ordinate its approach to identity theft amid concerns it is costing the US billions every year.
In 2006, the Bush administration set up an identity theft task force comprised of 17 federal departments and agencies.
(BBC)
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