RESTAURANT DATA BREACH – HACKERS STEAL CREDIT AND DEBIT CARD INFO

A Lexington, Kentucky Italian restaurant, Smashing Tomato, has announced that it has suffered a data breach.  The Smashing Tomato’s customers are complaining of unauthorized charges on their credit and debit cards as far away as Texas and Ohio.  The restaurant learned of the data breach after being contacted by the US Secret Service.

The restaurant’s owner said, “We have a duty to be responsible. We’re embarrassed and appalled that this has happened to us.”

The owner believes someone hacked into their merchant transaction system and obtained credit card numbers.

Commentators to the news story published by Dave Spencer at 27NewsFirst, speculate the hacking may have been an inside job.  One comment states:

“I actually work at a financial institution that had folks affected by this situation. I can tell you it isn’t something that happened because of the internet, it is someone that is skimming cards. Sticking some sort of device into the card reading, that device saves all of the swiped cards information for later use to make actual plastic cards. Not just the location in Hamburg was affected as I have a friend that used her card at the one on Nicholasville Road and she had fraud. Unfortunately the reality of this person or persons getting caught is slim to none, because they are making plastic cards and they are being swiped in stores in other states. It’s what is called a skimming ring! It is really horrible for everyone involved, except for the people doing it! “

Perhaps, the hacker(s) used a skimmer to obtain the credit and debit card numbers.  Employers should conduct background checks on all of its employees, especially employees who have access to customers’ credit or debit cards.

Have you discovered unauthorized charges on your credit or debit card?  have you requested your free credit report from Experian, Equifax and Trans Union?

CONTACT IDENTITY THEFT ATTORNEY MICAH ADKINS FOR A FREE ID THEFT INFORMATION KIT.

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