Monday, February 9, 2009

Heartland Breach Won't "Disappear"

Huge bank card scam hits Bermuda
Bermuda Sun


Hundreds of debit and credit card customers in Bermuda have been dragged into one of the world's biggest security breaches.

Bank of Bermuda and Butterfield Bank are warning customers to be on guard after cyber-crooks hacked into the computer system of an overseas payment company.  Individuals and businesses with Visa and MasterCard cards are said to be at risk from the data breach at Heartland Payment Services.  Some 'compromised customers' have already had their bank accounts closed and replacement cards with new account numbers issued.

And the island's two biggest banks are now advising all card customers to monitor their statements to look for any suspicious activity.

Tech-security experts said the breach could set a worldwide record. It is believed that the scam could be the result of a "widespread cyber fraud operation" and the stolen data could be used to make fake cards.Bank of Bermuda confirmed its customers had been affected and it was doing all it could to protect them.


Lisa Fox, head of card services at the Bank of Bermuda, said the bank was working to safeguard its affected customers by contacting them directly, closing compromised accounts and issuing replacement cards.


Robert O. Carr, Heartland's chairman and CEO, said he "sincerely regretted any inconvenience caused" by the data breach. He stressed that no personal information such as cardholder's PIN numbers, addresses or telephone numbers had been stolen.  Mr. Carr said: "We will not rest (in peace?) until we have the answers to how and why this breach occurred so we can prevent any future attacks at Heartland and elsewhere.

Full Story from Bermuda Sun







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