More than half a million customers at 34 liquor stores owned by Spec's may have had critical financial information stolen in a sophisticated computer scam that persisted for a year and a half, the company announced Friday. The Houston-based chain, a statewide presence with 155 stores, joins a growing list of high-profile retailers, from Target to Neiman Marcus, that have reported major breaches this year. A representative said hints the computer system had been compromised began to surface early last year but that until this week federal investigators had asked Spec's not to divulge details. Rick Dardenne, a Spec's customer who lives in Fort Worth, said he learned his information had been compromised, possibly when he shopped at a Spec's in Kingwood, after receiving a new Amegy Bank card in the mail. Sarver said that after receiving alerts from a major lending institution and the company that processes many of its card payments, Spec's brought in private investigators and turned over evidence to the U.S.