[Dataloss] Wesco [update]

[Dissent]

http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/287522874733787.bsp


[...]

The potential breach, it initially seemed, stemmed from purchases at
Muskegon-based Wesco fuel stations. But federal authorities no longer
are certain that the depth and breadth stops there. The federal
investigation continues, at the hands of the U.S. Secret Service and
the U.S. Attorney's office. According to the U.S. Attorney's office,
several suspects are in custody throughout the United States.

[...]

Richard Murray, assistant U. S. Attorney for the Western District of
West Michigan, said the potential fraud is part of an ongoing
investigation. He said several suspects are in custody, although he
would not say where. Murray said a suspect recently was apprehended
and is being held in Ohio.

"We're still analyzing the data," said Murray, who works out of the
Grand Rapids-based federal office. "We don't have any information to
indicate a specific data breach. We don't know for sure what
happened."

Murray said all Wesco fuel pumps have been inspected and it's unlikely
an unwelcome card reader recorded information directly from credit
card swipes at the pump.

"At this point we're pursuing all avenues," Murray said. "We don't
have any reason to think Western Michigan was targeted specifically.
If it was an insider, which we're not saying it is, but that person
knew where the data was coming from. Hackers, if they're breaking into
a network, don't care where the machine is. They just care where the
data is."

[...]

Seyferth said she's received reports and calls from consumers
experiencing similar questionable fraudulent charges who say they've
never shopped at Wesco.

"This is happening in places where there are no Wescos," said Jill
Maitzen, a manager at the Fifth Third Ferrysburg Branch, who has also
received fraud complaints from people who have never shopped at Wesco.
"This seems to be international and (card numbers) are being sold all
over the world."

The Tribune has also received similar reports from readers of
potentially questionable credit card postings well beyond September.

"It's possible other merchants are involved," said Murray, the federal
attorney. "That's what we're trying to clarify. It seemed out of
proportion to Wesco but we're a little taken aback on the scale that
this seems to be reaching. We're trying to figure out if there's
something bigger going on than what we thought initially. We're not
quite ready for something of this scope. We don't have a squad of
people to handle it."

Murray said many credit card companies are reissuing new numbers and
credit cards to consumers for precautionary reasons.

[...]