BATTLE CREEK – If you used a credit or debit card to buy food, beverages, or retail goods at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel between Sept. 7, 2014, and April 25, 2015, your personal data is at risk. FireKeepers said some 85,000 cards may have been hacked.
An investigation showed someone gained unauthorized access to the casino’s computer system, including its file-storage server. Hacked were card numbers, cardholder names, verification codes and card expiration dates.
The file-storage server held information of customers, employees and their dependents. Social Security and driver’s license numbers as well as health-benefit selections and medical billing information for current and former employees were stored on the server, the company said in a press release.
Cards used for hotel reservations, cash advances and ATM transactions were not affected by the breach, FireKeepers said. The Red Hot Rewards Club database also was not affected.
The incident was discovered April 16 after the casino learned about “a possible security incident involving payment card information.” The investigation confirmed several consumer reports indicating concern about their bank ancredit card statements.
The casino replaced its point-of-sale equipment with a system not tied to the casino’s main computer systems during the investigation, Vice President of Marketing Jim Wise said.
Not known at this time is who did it. FireKeepers officials would not comment on that. But FireKeepers is offering credit monitoring and identity protection services to those affected though AllClear ID at www.firekeepers.allclearid.com.
