Not Again! Security Breach Could Affect Cardholders

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: EEkid () aol com
Date: June 17, 2005 11:28:22 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Not Again! Security Breach Could Affect Cardholders


Security Breach Could Affect Cardholders

NEW YORK, June 17, 2005


(AP) A security breach of customer information at a credit card- 
processing company could put at risk 40 million cardholders of all  
brands, MasterCard International Inc. said Friday.

The credit card giant said its security division detected multiple  
instances of fraud that tracked back to CardSystems Solutions Inc. of  
Tucson, Ariz., which processes transactions for banks and merchants.

MasterCard said in a news release late Friday afternoon that it was  
notifying its card-issuing banks of the problem.

CardSystems was hit by a computer virus that captured customer data  
for the purpose of fraud, said company spokeswoman Sharon Gamsin.

MasterCard, which said about 14 million of its own cards were  
exposed, said it was giving CardSystems a "limited amount of time to  
demonstrate compliance with security requirements."

CardSystems officials did not immediately return telephone calls  
seeking comment. Nor did officials from American Express and Visa.

The breach is the latest in a series that has hurt a number of high- 
profile companies _ including Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp.,  
and DSW Shoe Warehouse.

Earlier this month, Citigroup said United Parcel Service had lost  
computer tapes with sensitive information from 3.9 million customers  
of CitiFinancial, a unit that provides personal and home loans.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/17/ap/business/ 
mainD8APK6C00.shtml

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