Fraud alert from Attorney General

Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer
alert following the recent theft of data from the Tampa-based Sweetbay
Supermarket chain and its sister company, Maine-based Hannaford Brothers.
At least 1,800 customers have reported being the victims of fraud as a
result of the data breach. Consumers who used credit or debit cards at the
106 Sweetbay stores in Florida between December 2007 and March 10, 2008
should closely review their accounts for unauthorized charges and monitor
their bank and credit card statements, McCollum cautioned.

“The large number of fraud reports related to this data breach
emphasizes that real people are being harmed,” McCollum said. “I
encourage all Floridians to be aware and active in protecting themselves
against fraud and identity theft and to recognize that data breaches of
this magnitude are becoming more common.”

Sweetbay and Hannaford Brothers, both owned by Belgium-based Delhaize
Group, S.A., reported Monday that their computer systems were hacked in
December 2007. Credit card and debit card account numbers were stolen in
connection with 4.2 million customer purchases. Company officials believe
hackers broke into the systems and captured data during part of the payment
process at check-out.

Although company officials say customer name and address information
was not part of the stolen data, Attorney General McCollum cautions that
consumers should not let their guard down as the investigation continues.
While the number of Florida consumers potentially affected is unconfirmed,
some reports indicate 1.6 million Sweetbay transactions are at issue. Most
Sweetbay stores are in the greater Tampa Bay area with stores extending to
Naples, Lakeland and Crystal River.

All Sweetbay customers should promptly review statements and
transactions during the four-month period in question to check for unusual
activity and report fraudulent charges to banks or credit card issuers for
investigation, reversal, or card reissuance. Company officials are
expected to prominently display in-store notices of the breach, and the
Attorney General’s Office is monitoring compliance. Affected consumers may
call Sweetbay's toll-free special assistance number, 1-866-591-4580, or
visit the company’s website at
http://www.sweetbaysupermarket.com/Contents/News_Events/News/News.shtml

Consumers who believe they may have been a victim of identity theft
related to this or any other data breach are encouraged to contact the
Attorney General’s Fraud Hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226).
Other steps to take include contacting police, and requesting that the
national credit bureaus place a fraud alert on your credit report. Notify
banks and creditors involved of questionable charges or accounts, keep
records of all telephone calls and follow up in writing with credit
bureaus, banks and creditors. For additional tips on combating identity
theft, log onto the Attorney General’s website at http://myfloridalegal.com