If you used a credit card between the dates of Sept. 21 and Nov. 18th at national restaurant wholesalers Restaurant Depot or Jetro Cash & Carry, then you should probably know that Russian cyberthugs wearing leather blazers and gold chains and stinking of Armani Aqua di Gio are currently selling your information on the black market.

The following is an excerpt of the letter currently being sent to all customers deemed to be at risk:

"We recently determined that computer hackers stole credit and debit card information from the card processing system we use..."

"You are receiving this letter because we believe your credit or debit card information was stolen. This letter explains actions we have taken in response to the theft and describes some actions you can take to protect yourself against fraud."

"How the thieves stole the card information — The investigators determined that the thieves inserted malicious software or 'malware' into the credit and debit card processing systems we use in our stores. The malware collected card information as it was processed, stored it temporarily, and then sent it to a computer server in Russia."

If you're wondering if you've ever shopped at a Restaurant Depot but aren't quite sure, run through this simple checklist:

1. Do I regularly purchase kitchen items like bacon and mayonnaise in bulk?
If you answered NO, please skip to step 5.
If you answered YES, continue to:
2. Do I belong to Restaurant Depot?
If you answered NO, please skip to step 5.
If you answered YES, continue to:
3. Have I noticed any strange charges on my accounts lately, say, for one dozen lynx fur jackets with fox trim?
If you answered NO, please skip to step 5.
If you answered YES, continue to:
4. You MAY be at risk for credit card fraud. Please contact your credit card company immediately.
5. You are NOT at risk for credit card fraud. Continue gorging yourself on bacon and mayonnaise in sensible quantities, free from worry.

[t/y Kubz]