Pa. vendor confirms link to Target data probe

PITTSBURGH — Minneapolis-based Target isn’t commenting on reports that a Pittsburgh-area heating and refrigeration company is being investigated as the possible portal through which computer hackers stole credit card numbers from 40 million of the store’s customers.

Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder says the 1,800-store chain isn’t commenting because the investigation is ongoing.

Fazio Mechanical Services Inc., of Sharpsburg, has issued a statement saying it was the victim of a “sophisticated cyberattack operation” that is linked to the U.S. Secret Service investigation of the Target data breach.

Internet security bloggers identified the company as the third-party vendor through which hackers accessed Target’s customer information. Target had previously told reporters the store believed hackers accessed customer information through a vendor’s computer system.