COLUMBUS (WCMH/AP) – Wendy’s says hackers were able to steal customer’s credit and debit card information at 1,025 of its U.S. restaurants, with 68 being Ohio. Far more than it originally thought.
The hamburger chain says hackers were able to access card numbers, names, expiration dates and codes on the cards. Some customer’s cards were used to make fraudulent purchases at other stores.
In May, it said malware was found in fewer than 300 restaurants starting in the fall of 2015. About a month later, it said two types of malware were found and the number of restaurants affected was “considerably higher.” The malware tried to get access to the following data: cardholder name, credit or debit card number, expiration date, cardholder verification value, and service code.
Wendy’s says the “malware has also been disabled in all franchisee restaurants where it has been discovered.”
There are more than 5,700 U.S. Wendy’s restaurants.
Here is the list of Wendy’s in Ohio that were hacked:
| Address | City | State | Zip Code | Dates |
| 2060 MOGADORE ROAD | AKRON | OHIO | 44312 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1040 PROSPECT ROAD | ASHTABULA | OHIO | 44004 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 27 S RACCOON RD | AUSTINTOWN | OHIO | 44515 | 11/1/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 1487 CENTER ROAD | AVON | OHIO | 44011 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 700 SOUTH MAIN | BELLEFONTAINE | OHIO | 43311 | 10/29/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 433 BOARDMAN-POLAND RD. | BOARDMAN | OHIO | 44512 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1504 WOOSTER ST | BOWLING GREEN | OHIO | 43402 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1094 S. MAIN ST | BOWLING GREEN | OHIO | 43402 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 636 LINCOLN | CADIZ | OHIO | 43907 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1708 SOUTHGATE PKWY | CAMBRIDGE | OHIO | 43725 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 2180 E. WHEELING AVENUE | CAMBRIDGE | OHIO | 43725 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1301 30TH STREET NW | CANTON | OHIO | 44709 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 436 CENTER STREET | CHARDON | OHIO | 44024 | 10/30/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 11400 DALLAS BOULEVARD | CINCINNATI | OHIO | 45231 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 3055 SULLIVANT AVE. | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43204 | 10/29/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 1460 HARRISBURG PIKE | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43223 | 10/29/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 2004 N. HIGH STREET | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43201 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 3455 N. CLEVELAND AVE. | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43224 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 6030 BUSCH BLVD. | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43229 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1100 DUBLIN ROAD | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43215 | 10/29/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 1483 OLENTANGY RIVER RD. | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43212 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 685 E HUDSON | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43211 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 450 W 10TH AVE | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43210 | 11/1/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 1724 W FIFTH AVE | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43212 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1054 E. BROAD ST. | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43205 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 8450 N HIGH ST | COLUMBUS | OHIO | 43235 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 233 S. 2ND ST. | COSHOCTON | OHIO | 43812 | 10/29/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 7435 BRANDT PIKE | DAYTON | OHIO | 45424 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 15957 ST RT 170 | E.LIVERPOOL | OHIO | 43920 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1521 NORTH BARRON STREET | EATON | OHIO | 45320 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 393 NORTH BROAD STREET | FAIRBORN | OHIO | 45324 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 500 TIFFIN AVE. | FINDLAY | OHIO | 45840 | 10/29/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 740 TRENTON AVE. | FINDLAY | OHIO | 45840 | 10/29/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 1104 COUNTYLINE ST | FOSTORIA | OHIO | 44830 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1782 SOUTH BROADWAY | GENEVA | OHIO | 44041 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1920 STRINGTOWN ROAD | GROVE CITY | OHIO | 43123 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 3065 LONDON-GROVEPORT ROAD | GROVE CITY | OHIO | 43123 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 3445 BROADWAY | GROVE CITY | OHIO | 43123 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 8201 ST. RT. 235 | HUBER HTS. | OHIO | 45424 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1372 LEXINGTON AVENUE | MANSFIELD | OHIO | 44904 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 402 AETNA STREET | MARTINS FERRY | OHIO | 43935 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1155 READING ROAD | MASON | OHIO | 45040 | 12/2/2015 – 6/8/2016 |
| 8200 ARBOR SQUARE DR. | MASON | OHIO | 45040 | 12/2/2015 – 6/8/2016 |
| 6330 ST RT 128 | MIAMITOWN | OHIO | 45041 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 6148 ST. RT. 95 | MT.GILEAD | OHIO | 43338 | 12/2/2015 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1415 N.21ST ST | NEWARK | OHIO | 43055 | 10/29/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 204 CHERRY VALLEY RD NE | NEWARK | OHIO | 43055 | 10/31/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 55 DAYTON ROAD | NEWARK | OHIO | 43055 | 10/29/2015 – 1/22/2016 |
| 5711 YOUNGSTOWN-WARREN | NILES | OHIO | 44446 | 10/31/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 5142 COLLEGE CORNER PIKE | OXFORD | OHIO | 45056 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1550 MENTOR AVE. | PAINESVILLE | OHIO | 44077 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 45 EAST BROAD STREET | PATASKALA | OHIO | 43062 | 10/29/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 26630 DIXIE HIGHWAY | PERRYSBURG | OHIO | 43551 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 27240 CROSSROADS PARKWAY | ROSSFORD | OHIO | 43460 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 2388 E STATE STREET | SALEM | OHIO | 44460 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 50707 VALLEY FRONTAGE ROAD | ST.CLAIRSVILLE | OHIO | 43950 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 2206 SUNSET BLVD. | STEUBENVILLE | OHIO | 43952 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 88 MILLER DRIVE | SUNBURY | OHIO | 43074 | 12/2/2015 – 6/8/2016 |
| 3 WELLER DRIVE | TIPP CITY | OHIO | 45371 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 825 W MAIN STREET | TROY | OHIO | 45373 | 1/13/2016 – 6/9/2016 |
| 1300 ARCHER DRIVE | TROY | OHIO | 45373 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 383 E NATIONAL ROAD | VANDALIA | OHIO | 45377 | 1/13/2016 – 6/9/2016 |
| 1411 BELLEFONTAINE ST. | WAPAKONETA | OHIO | 45895 | 10/28/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 2033 WALMART DRIVE, NE | WARREN | OHIO | 44483 | 10/31/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 530 CLINTON AVENUE | WASHINGTON C.H. | OHIO | 43160 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 5855 SOM CENTER | WILLOUGHBY | OHIO | 44094 | 11/1/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
| 100 MAIN STREET | WINTERSVILLE | OHIO | 43952 | 1/13/2016 – 6/8/2016 |
| 1500 WORTHINGTON WOODS BLVD | WORTHINGTON | OHIO | 43085 | 10/29/2015 – 2/8/2016 |
| 4001 BELMONT AVENUE | YOUNGSTOWN | OHIO | 44505 | 11/1/2015 – 2/14/2016 |
MAP OF AFFECTED OHIO WENDY’S
The company released the following statement:
We sincerely apologize to anyone who has been inconvenienced as a result of these highly sophisticated, criminal cyberattacks…
In a world where malicious cyberattacks have unfortunately become all too common for merchants, we are committed to doing what is necessary to protect our customers. We will continue to work diligently with our investigative team to apply what we have learned from these incidents and further strengthen our data security measures. Thank you for your continued patience, understanding and support.
If your information was stolen, Wendy’s is offering affected customers one year of complimentary fraud consultation and identity restoration services. (https://www.wendys.com/en-us/about-wendys/the-wendys-company-updates)
Customers who are looking for more information may call a toll-free number (866) 779-0485, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm CST, Monday through Friday. Wendy’s said Thursday it would post a list of affected restaurants on its website.
Bill Fenner is a computer expert, who owns his own IT business.
“Chances are you’re going to get hacked at some point,” he says.
Fenner says in this day in age, sometimes there’s not much you can do to escape a cyber attack, even with the proper anti-virus software.
“Whether it’s on Amazon.com or you’re swiping your card at Wendy’s, McDonald’s, whatever it may be, there’s always a risk of exposure,” he says. “You have these criminals that have AVG. They have Norton. They have McAfee. They have Microsoft Security Essentials and they’re constantly looking at ways to get around it. That is their own personal objective is to defeat those protections.”
Fenner says the key is constantly monitoring your accounts.
“It’s always about due diligence. You should be checking your credit report once a month. You should always be going over your statements every month,” he says. “These days it’s a lot safer to stay away from your bank cards and go with using credit cards and just pay your credit card off every month.”
He says you should check for suspicious activity, even if it’s just for a few dollars.
“They’ll do a little $2.95 or $3.95 charge. They do that across 20,000 cards…that adds up to a lot of cash,” says Fenner.
He says using cash isn’t necessarily the best solution.
“You can still get robbed. You can just be easily on the street and someone can pick your pocket and take your cash and there is not protections for that,” says Fenner. “There’s criminals out there and they are looking everyday for a new way to make money off of honest people.”
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office released these tips to anyone who may be affected by the data breach:Tips for consumers:
- Don’t panic. Just because your information has been compromised doesn’t mean it will be used fraudulently. (A data breach is not the same as identity theft.)
- Monitor your credit card accounts. Look for suspicious activity. If you find errors, immediately notify your credit card provider.
- Understand the type of information that was affected. Not all breaches affect the same type of data. If only your credit card number was compromised, your risk for identity theft may be lower than it would be if your Social Security number and/or account passwords were compromised.
- Consider paying with a credit card versus a debit card. When you pay with a credit card, you generally have greater protections for disputing fraudulent charges. On the other hand, if you pay with a debit card, and a breach occurs, a scammer might be able to access your bank account (because it’s tied to your debit card).
- Beware of “phishing” scams related to the breach. Con artists may pose as a representative from the organization that was breached to try to obtain your personal information. Calls claiming to provide information about the breach may be scams.
- Check your credit report. You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Checking your credit report can help you watch for signs of identity theft and make sure the information reported about your credit history is accurate. Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com to access your free annual reports. You can pull all three at once, or you can stagger pulling your reports throughout the year.
- For help, contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Ohioans who want to learn more about consumer protection issues, file a consumer complaint, or get help correcting the effects of identity theft should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioProtects.org or calling 800-282-0515.
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