American Express Credit Cards Compromised in Alarming Vendor Data Breach

Imagine receiving a letter from your credit card company, informing you that your card information has been exposed due to a data breach at one of their service providers. That’s precisely what happened to some American Express customers.

A Third-Party Data Breach Affects American Express

Recently, American Express has been warning its customers that their credit card information may have been compromised in a third-party data breach. The breach occurred at a service provider that works with American Express’ travel services division, American Express Travel Related Services Company.

In their data breach notification, American Express stated: “We became aware that a third party service provider engaged by numerous merchants experienced unauthorized access to its system. Account information of some of our Card Members, including some of your account information, may have been involved.”

It’s crucial to note that American Express’ systems were not compromised, and this notice was provided as a precautionary measure. However, the fact remains that customers’ American Express Card account numbers, names, and card expiration data were accessed by hackers.

Unfortunately, it’s currently unclear how many customers were impacted, which service provider was breached, and when the attack occurred.

IT Services Investigates the Breach

When we asked American Express for more information about the breach, they told us that they don’t disclose details of their business relationships and merchant partners. They also had no further information to share at this time.

However, American Express did confirm that they have notified the required regulatory authorities and are alerting impacted customers. They said, “When we learn about a data security incident that impacts our customers, we promptly begin an investigation and notify the appropriate regulatory authorities, as required. We also work to identify impacted customers and understand the specific impacts, and then notify them as required by applicable laws and regulations.”

Moreover, if an American Express cardmember’s credit card is used to make fraudulent purchases, the company assured us that customers would not be responsible for the charges.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

American Express advises customers to review their account statements over the next 12 to 24 months and report any suspicious behavior. Additionally, they suggest enabling instant notifications via the American Express mobile app to receive alerts about fraud and when purchases are made.

Lastly, if your card information was stolen, it may be wise to request a new card number. It’s common for threat actors to sell stolen credit cards on cybercrime marketplaces.

A Call to Stay Informed and Vigilant

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of staying informed and vigilant about protecting your personal and financial information. While companies like American Express work hard to keep your data secure, breaches can still occur.

So, make sure to keep an eye on your account activity, enable notifications, and stay up-to-date on the latest cybersecurity news. And remember, we’re always here to help and provide you with the information you need to stay safe in today’s digital world. Don’t hesitate to reach out and keep coming back to learn more.