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Casino Operator Knocked Over by Cybercriminals
By Jill Scharr DECEMBER 27, 2013 2:52 PM - Tom's Guide US
Lady Luck was nowhere to be found at Nevada-based casino operator Affinity Gaming this year. Malicious hackers broke into the company's payment systems and stole credit and debit card information from cards used at its casinos in Colorado, Missouri, Iowa and Nevada between March 14 and Oct. 16.
It may not have the glamour of an "Ocean's Eleven"-style heist, but these cybercriminals' methods were apparently effective: According to Affinity Gaming, the hackers infected its systems with malware, which allowed them to steal financial information from up to 300,000 customers, potentially over a prolonged period.
The affected locations include Silver Sevens Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk, Colo., and Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino in Primm, Nev. A full list of the victimized casinos can be found on the company's website.
Affinity Gaming first became aware of the theft on Oct. 24, when local law enforcement contacted the company about a fraudulent charge that may have been linked to the data breach.
The data breach extends to credit and debit cards used before Nov. 29 at the Primm Center Gas Station, which is also owned by Affinity Gaming. It's still unclear when this break-in began.
Affinity Gaming first admitted the break-in on Dec. 20. The news came just a few days after retail giant Target admitted that millions of credit and debit information from cards used in its stores had been stolen.
If you believe you were affected in this data breach, you should take steps to protect your identity by contacting your credit card company and checking your account for any unfamiliar charges, as well as contacting a credit reporting agency such as Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.
Credit reporting agencies can put a "fraud alert" on your account, which will make it more difficult for anyone to use your credentials to make a purchase.
