Visa/Master card data breach exposes up to 3 Million customers

**no1_vern** · March 30th, 2012, 05:50 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/bu...le-attack.html

Visa and MasterCard, the nation’s largest payment processors, said Friday that they were investigating a security breach at a third-party vendor to determine whether data thieves had gained access to credit card holders’ personal information.

An official at one major American bank, who declined to be identified because the investigation was at an early stage, estimated that one million to three million cardholders could be affected. That does not mean all those cards were used fraudulently, but that credit card information on the cardholders was exposed.

**ShyguyXPC** · March 30th, 2012, 06:00 PM

ugh, here we go again....

Was just a few months back I was issued a new Mastercard Debit card for similar reasons....

Our bank switched from Visa to MC last year, around end of the year, we were issued new MC Debit cards, because they were "potentially" at risk, but weren't necessarily actually stolen, so they played it safe, MC asked the bank to reissue new MC Debit cards to all those potentially affected.

Wonder if this will have any affect on that, even though it says Credit Card, but considering there's little difference between them, aside from the type of accounts their attached to, and some of the fringe benefits earned from using CC's, and many places will ring the Debit cards as Credit cards, makes me wonder if the Debit cards will be affected as well, reisssued yet another one this year, making 4 cards in less than a years time.

**RicheemxX** · March 30th, 2012, 06:09 PM

Could be the same issue, it happened back in Jan-Feb but was just now released. The est numbers affected have been hit and miss. The original report was 10m, then it was 50k and now 3m.

**ShyguyXPC** · March 30th, 2012, 06:15 PM

went to go back and read the whole article, must of missed that part, and thats the one thing I hate about the NY Times site, you can view it once, but if you go back to view a 2nd time, they won't let you read the article with out logging in, or creating a new account, Grrrrr.

**RicheemxX** · March 30th, 2012, 06:21 PM

There has been no official confirmation of the dates or the numbers involved. Those dates were just the ones listed in the first report from the security firm that spotted it. But now it looks like the vendor, Global Payments, is saying they found it March 12th?

Global Payments Inc.

**pickel** · March 30th, 2012, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by ShyguyXPC

and many places will ring the Debit cards as Credit cards

First time that happened to me, I went down to the bank and asked 'What gives ?"
The bank officer said some kind of BS story and I asked for his scissors and cut up the card on the spot.
One less HASSEL.

**ShyguyXPC** · March 30th, 2012, 07:06 PM

Um... Pickel, you lost me on your comment.

What was wrong with them ringing the debit card up as a credit card, it gets deducted from your bank account same as you would with a debit card, just don't have to remember your Debit pin number is all.

If the retailer or store, rang up your Debit card as a Credit, it wasn't the banks fault.

**RicheemxX** · March 30th, 2012, 07:12 PM

The only issue I have with the debit used as credit thing is that most retailers don't do their due diligence and actually check id's. At least with my pin I have some protection. If the cash comes out of my bank account I could bounce checks, mis e-payments ect and some banks take awhile to refund disputed charges and then you can face overcharges or back charges from those payment being missed. With my CC I don't have to worry about that as much

**ShyguyXPC** · March 30th, 2012, 07:14 PM

True, but it still comes down to the retailers fault and not the banks. And wondering what Pickel was actually talking about?

**pickel** · March 30th, 2012, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by ShyguyXPC

Um... Pickel, you lost me on your comment.

What was wrong with them ringing the debit card up as a credit card, it gets deducted from your bank account same as you would with a debit card, just don't have to remember your Debit pin number is all.

If the retailer or store, rang up your Debit card as a Credit, it wasn't the banks fault.

If you lose your card or wallet and do not realize this has happened for a period of time, someone who knows where to use the card for credit , can wipe out your account pronto. Even though it's protected and you'll get reimbursed, it's still a hassle I can do without.

**ShyguyXPC** · March 30th, 2012, 07:20 PM

well, now that you finally explained why, ok thats understandable.

...I went down to the bank and asked 'What gives ?"
The bank officer said some kind of BS story...

but, the above part of your reply Really didn't explain why you cut up the card.

**pickel** · March 30th, 2012, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by ShyguyXPC

well, now that you finally explained why, ok thats understandable.

but, the above part of your reply Really didn't explain why you cut up the card.

Cody knew what I was talking about.

**Bizkitkid2001** · March 31st, 2012, 12:22 AM

Luckily my mastercard is already maxed out

**GroundZero3** · April 1st, 2012, 05:30 PM

Just saw two charges on my usaa debit card for VPN service with witopia. Cancelled my card and contacted witopia. They are in the process of refunding me, thankfully it wasnt some outrageous charges.

Keep a look out at your accounts.

**SpaceSquad** · April 1st, 2012, 09:32 PM

My issuer has email alerts for international/large/odd purchases on my card...great stuff...too bad I have had to use it before.

**mrniceguy** · February 6th, 2013, 10:02 AM

ugh, old news.

**Chuckiechan** · February 6th, 2013, 11:23 AM

I really wish they would find the culprits and take action against them. We are all paying for it one way or another.

Suppose the theft originated from Bulgaria? The credit card companies should suspend Bulgaria's credit card program for 24 hours "while we improve our security"... The governments would do something about that in a hurry!

Suppose it just looked like it was from Bulgaria, but was from somewhere else? Too F'ing bad. We still need 24 hours to plug our holes. Maybe Bulgaria should start looking for the crooks, too!

Then Obama can order up a drone strike.