Two Mexican Nationals Arrested At Texas Border In Connection To Target Fraud

FILE - In this Dec. 19, 2013, file photo, a passer-by walks near an entrance to a Target retail store in Watertown, Mass. The security breach that hit Target Corp. during the crucial holiday season seemed to be part of a broader and highly sophisticated scam that affected several retailers, says a report published by a global cyber intelligence firm that works with the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) (ap)

McALLEN, Texas (AP) – Police in South Texas say data stolen during the Target security breach are now being divided up and sold off regionally as evidenced by the arrest of two Mexican citizens carrying 96 fraudulent credit cards.

McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said Monday that the cards used by 27-year-old Mary Carmen Garcia and 28-year-old Daniel Guardiola Dominguez, both of Monterrey, Mexico, carried the account information of South Texas residents. They were used to buy tens of thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise at national retailers in the area.

The two were arrested on Sunday morning trying to re-enter the U.S. at the border.

The Target security breach is believed to have involved 40 million credit and debit card accounts and the personal information of 70 million customers.

It seemed to be part of a broader and highly sophisticated scam that affected several retailers, according to a report published by a global cyber intelligence firm that works with the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security.