Click here to access the main News page and view a listing of all available articles.

Hackers Steal Credit Card Info From Millions – Restaurant Company Suspected
www.WCTV.tv - 06/27/08

Many credit union members have become victims of a nationwide theft. Al Hammock, the Senior Vice President for Envision Credit Union says they are just one of many credit unions that had members' cards compromised. "We've notified our members, let them know that they don't have anything to worry about, they're not going to lose any money," said Hammock. Hammock also says they're now in the process of reissuing and deactivating about 613 cards. Of those, hackers tried to use the information taken from at least two Tallahassee residents. But the credit union says a program was able to alert them about the suspicious purchases.

Other than that, it's up to each member to keep a close eye on his or her account. "The best thing is to do is to listen to your financial institution. If they tell you to stop using your card, don't use it," said Hammock. Also, protect your card, look at credit reports on a regular basis, and destroy all receipts before getting rid of them. Some members say they have heard about other scandals and they try to take the best precautions. "There's always that chance that something could happen and you can only prepare yourself as best as possible," said Envision Credit Union member Harty Wiedemann.

The Secret Service is investigating the massive theft. They have made some arrests overseas and in Miami. And that's when they discovered over a million stolen records that these hackers obtained through getting access to the computer files of a company. The investigation is still on-going, so authorities are releasing very little information at this time... but Hammock tells me they believe that the company that was breached owns restaurants.

Thieves stole credit and debit card information from more than a million cards across the country, including hundreds from Envision Credit Union. Representatives from Envision are scrambling to try and contain the damage from the theft.

Representatives from Envision say they're now in the process of reissuing and deactivating 613 cards.

And the credit card company says at least two Tallahassee residents have been victim to the heist.

The Secret Service is investigating the massive theft. And officials from Envision Credit Union say thankfully no one has lost any money.

"Out of the 613 members who were affected by this, nobody lost any money. And even if their cards were compromised they would not lose any money. The credit union would take care of that and make sure that members were never harmed," says Al Hammock, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Envision Credit Union.

Representatives from Envision say the customers aren't the only victims. Envision estimates it will have to pay thousands of dollars replacing the stolen cards.

Investigators aren't yet saying how the hackers were able to pull off such a large breach.

But officials from the credit union say they have programs designed to alert them when a suspicious purchase is made. That program was able to catch some of the purchases when they were used.

Arrests have been made by the Secret Service overseas and in Miami. But for now they're not releasing their identities.

Click here to access the main News page and view a listing of all available articles.