American Express Co. has alerted an undisclosed number of cardholders about a potential data breach involving their account information. The breach occurred at a merchant processor, where unauthorized access to its system was detected by a third-party service provider engaged by numerous merchants.
The compromised data includes current and previously issued American Express Card account numbers, expiration dates, and customer names. However, American Express clarified that its owned or controlled systems were not compromised in this incident.
In response to the breach, American Express is actively monitoring potentially impacted accounts for fraudulent activity. The company reassured customers that they are not liable for any fraudulent charges and advised them to review their accounts for any suspicious activity. Additionally, customers are encouraged to sign up for instant notifications of potential fraudulent transactions and ensure that their contact information is up to date.
The financial services company emphasized that incidents like these may prompt financial institutions to report to relevant agencies, depending on the circumstances. American Express cited a blog post on the Massachusetts state website to clarify reporting protocols.
When questioned about the extent of the breach, American Express declined to disclose the number of affected individuals or the geographical reach of the incident. However, the company reiterated that the breach did not target American Express directly or any of its service providers. Instead, it occurred at a merchant processor.
American Express underscored its commitment to customer security, highlighting the sophisticated monitoring systems and internal safeguards in place to detect and address fraudulent and suspicious activity promptly. Customers who observe any suspicious activity on their accounts are urged to contact American Express immediately at the provided helpline number.
As data breaches continue to pose a threat to consumer privacy and financial security, vigilance and proactive measures remain crucial for both financial institutions and cardholders alike.