WENDYS DATA BREACH – WHERE’S THE BREACH?

WHERE’S THE BREACH?

Wendy’s Investigates and Attempts to Contain Data Breach

The national fast-food restaurant, Wendy’s, has been under scrutiny after possible credit card breaches at several locations. Wendy’s has approximately 6,487 locations worldwide with a market cap of over $2.65 billion, making it the third largest hamburger fast-food chain in the world.1 The company has recently launched an investigation following allegations of a potential credit card breach at several of its locations. The data breach was discovered through a pattern of fraud on certain credit and debit cards that were all used recently at various Wendy’s locations.2

The spokesperson for the Ohio-based restaurant confirmed that Wendy’s began receiving reports of unusual activity involving credit cards and payments at the beginning of January 2016. This abnormal activity was discovered in multiple restaurant locations. According to reports, the fraudulent charges may not have occurred at Wendy’s; rather, the charges likely occurred elsewhere after the cards were lawfully used at a Wendy’s restaurant. Nevertheless, Wendy’s has hired a cybersecurity firm to investigate and determine the actual facts and which consumers may be affected.3

Recently, large chains like Wendy’s have been the focus of data hacks. In 2013, Target was the focus of a data breach where an estimated 42 million people had their credit or debit card information stolen from superstore. Not only did Target agree to change its security policies with the eventual settlement, it ended up paying $10 million in a class action suit.4

Currently, the Wendy’s investigation is focusing on the late 2015 time-period, but Wendy’s claims it is too soon to say if the breach is contained or even speculate on the scope of which restaurants are being affected. When rumors of the Wendy’s breach first surfaced, financial institutions were reporting primarily from the midwest. Current reports, however, indicate that banks on the east coast are also seeing similar patterns.5 While the scope of the affected restaurants is still unclear, those cybersecurity investigators and consumers alike must be asking: “where’s the breach?”

Did you use a credit or debit card at a WENDY’S FAST-FOOD CHAIN between late 2015 and February 2016?  

If you answered yes, then you may already be a victim of identity theft. With offices in Atlanta, Birmingham, and Dallas, Texas, The Adkins Firm represents identity theft victims across the South in the individual and class action lawsuits under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).  Identity theft victims should contact an experienced identity theft attorney to determine their rights and evaluate potential claims.

Have you fallen victim to a data breach? Has your identity been stolen?

If you answered yes, then you should contact ID Theft Lawyer Micah Adkins for a free case review at 1-800-263-9091 24/7 or email us at: Intake@ItsYourCreditReport.com

1 Investor Dashboard. The Wendy’s Company. 2 Feb. 2016. https://www.wendys.com/en-us/about-wendys/investor-dashboard

2 Wendy’s Probes Reports of Credit Card Breach. KrebsOnSecurity. 27 Jan. 2016. http://krebsonsecurity.com/2016/01/wendys-probes-reports-of-credit-card-breach

3 Ibid.

4 Kaplan, Michael. Wendy’s Credit Card Breach? How To Know If You’re Affected As Fast Food Chain Investigates ‘Unusual Activity’. International Business Times. 27 Jan. 2016. http://www.ibtimes.com/wendys-credit-card-breach-how-know-if-youre-affected-fast-food-chain-investigates-2282469

5 Wendy’s Probes Reports of Credit Card Breach.