We told you about a computer hacking incident at two area Hacienda restaurants, compromising credit card information. Now our WSBT Fact Finder team has looked into what you should do to minimize the financial damage if your credit card number is stolen.
Computers were hacked at the Haciendas in Erskine Plaza in South Bend and in Michigan City. Hacienda doesn't know how many numbers were taken, but they do know they were stolen between December 23rd and January 4th.
Hacienda has hired an outside security analyst to inspect all restaurant systems.
“They're taking the hard drives out of the computers,” the Hacienda VP of sales and marketing told us. “They're examining what happened. They're going to figure out exactly how these criminals got into the system and then to take a look at what we can do to change the system so that no one can get in by that same method."
So what should you do if this happens to you? The Federal Trade Commission says time is everything. Report it - right away. If you do it fast enough – before the card is ever charged – you can't be held responsible for a dime.
If charges ARE made, report it within two days. The most you'll pay is $50.
If you wait 60 days it could go up to $500. Any longer than that and you could lose everything.
There are a few laws specifically designed to protect you from credit or debit card fraud. The Fair Credit Billing Act and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act are a couple of them.
