American Express recently issued a data breach advisory following a hacking incident targeting its third-party merchants’ payment hardware, as reported by Bleeping Computer.
The breach took place in Massachusetts and is linked to an “American Express Travel Related Services Company,” leading to unauthorized access to multiple merchants’ systems. This breach may have exposed customers’ credit card information, including account numbers, names, and card expiration dates.
American Express emphasized that its own systems were not compromised, but a merchant processor handling payments was breached. As a precautionary measure, American Express is notifying potentially affected card members about the incident.
The company is investigating the breach, reporting it to regulatory authorities and impacted customers. They recommend closely monitoring account statements for suspicious activity over the next 12-24 months. American Express offers instant notifications through its mobile app, enabling users to review purchases and receive fraud alerts. Card members can also request a new card number if their information is at risk.
In a similar incident in 2022, the Wiseasy hack compromised an Android-based payment system, affecting 140,000 payment terminals globally used in various establishments. American Express has taken steps to address the situation and protect its customers.
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