Atlanta-based home improvement retailer Home Depot confirmed that it is closely working with authorities to investigate the possible theft of its customer data, CNET reported.
The company, however, did not report if its network has been breached.
According to the company, security reporter Brian Krebs mentioned that a large cache of data stolen from credit and debit cards of Home Depot customers is being sold on black markets.
Paula Drake, a spokesperson for the company said they are currently investigating the matter. Although the company cannot verify the data theft, Drake noted that Home Depot will immediately notify its customers once a network breach has been confirmed, according to BBC.
"Protecting our customers' information is something we take extremely seriously, and we are aggressively gathering facts at this point while working to protect customers," Drake said in a statement.
"If we confirm that a breach has occurred, we will make sure customers are notified immediately," she added.
According to investigation reports, the possible breach may have occurred in April. The company fears that the cyber attack may have affected all 2,200 Home Depot branches in the U.S.
Krebs mentioned that Russian and Ukranian hackers may be the ones behind the alleged customer data theft.
He noted that if reports are true, then the attack on Home Depot may be significantly larger than what U.S. retailer Target experienced a couple of months ago.
In December of 2013 and in January of this year, a total of 110 million Target customers were the victims of data theft, Forbes reported.
The company confirmed that customers' personal information such as names, home mailing addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses were stolen by hackers.
"I know that this is frustrating for our guests to learn that this information was taken and we are truly sorry they are having to endure this," Target's CEO Gregg Steinhafel said.
"I also want our guests to know that understanding and sharing the facts related to this incident is important to me and the entire target team," he added.
