Over 20,000 Wyndham Customers at Risk of Identity Theft

Adding to the many data breaches reported at the end of 2008, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announce a data breach that may have put 21,000 guests at risk of identity theft. Wyndham reported the data breach to the Florida attorney general's office back in December and said they contacted the customers whose data had been compromised during the unauthorized access.

The data accessed included customer names and credit and debit card information. So far, Wyndham does not think that any of the compromised customer data has resulted in identity theft. However, the Florida attorney general still encourages consumers to alert and report any suspicious charges on their bank or credit card accounts. Those affected by the data breach should place fraud alerts on their credit reports and follow the advice in Wyndham's letter.

Review your credit card and bank statements carefully. You will also want to continue monitoring you credit by requesting a copy of your credit report twice a year. It is possible to minimize the affects of identity theft on your credit by catching and reporting it early.

Credit Card Companies and Identity Theft

I know this is a touchy subject, and there are companies that may not appreciate this post. However, when I saw this press release, I felt it appropriate to post. One of my first posts on this blog referred to the elimination of junk mail, particularly pre-approved credit card offers, as a way to prevent identity theft. Apparently, the targets vary, and in the case of the press release, people who have spent extensive time in the hospital have become targets for identity theft. Of course, who better to target than someone whose primary concerns are their health, not their credit? Who knows how long it will be before the theft is discovered, if they even survive?

And who is being blamed? Major banks and credit card companies offering free credit to just about anyone without verifying the identity of the person applying. It's as simple as mailing in a form, filling in an online request, or making a phone call. Lending and issuing credit, after all, is quite profitable. And what about those of us affected by identity theft? Cost of doing business perhaps.

A lawsuit is going on to hold these banks issuing the credit responsible.

Identity Theft At Memphis Restaurant

I've mentioned before that credit card skimmers have been used for identity theft at restaurants. However, that's not the only way a restaurant employee can steal your credit card number.

A recent news report says that Brad Taylor, a cook at Paulette's Restaurant in Midtown Memphis, copied customer credit card records found in the restaurant and sold them for $10 a page. Roderick Webb and Marlon Cox used the information to buy products online and then sell the merchandise to people in the community. Taylor, Webb, and Cox are charged with identity theft trafficking and conspiracy to commit identity theft trafficking. Taylor and Webb also face an identity theft charge. Customers who have used their credit cards at Paulette's since January 2007 are encouraged to carefully review their credit card statements.

So even if you carefully watch a waiter ring up your bill, there is still a chance that your credit card number can be stolen if a dishonest employee has access to the records. Wonderful!