Michigan AG Calls for CardSystems Solutions to Offer Protection from ID Theft

The state of Michigan’s Attorney General Mike Cox announced he is demanding CardSystems Solutions, Inc., an Arizona-based credit card processing company whose computer system was recently penetrated by data thieves, to notify affected Michigan cardholders and help them take steps to avoid becoming victims of identity theft.

"The breadth of this breach and the fact the company should not have been retaining the sensitive data compromised, makes this breach particularly egregious," said Cox. "Michigan consumers should be informed so they can take the proper steps to protect their identities."

The security breach, which exposed 40 million cardholders to a risk of fraud, was caused by the installation of a rogue computer program that could extract data from the system. The number of Michigan cardholders affected is currently unknown, but under investigation.

"Other crooks are likely to try to take advantage of the publicity this breach is receiving by claiming to provide assistance in protecting citizens if they reveal personal information," said Cox. "Consumers should not respond to e-mails claiming to originate from CardSystems Solutions, Inc. or any other company asking for personal information."