Hackers Compromise CU DebitAccounts

SHARON, Mass. - (05/05/05) -- Sharon CU recalled about 140MasterCard-branded debit cards this week after the card associationnotified the credit union the accounts may have been compromised bya database hacking at an unidentified retailer. Mark Emerson, chiefoperating officer at the $275 million credit union, said theyimmediately recalled all of the cards and issued those members newones. "There's no indication that any of the accounts have beencompromised. There's been no incidents of fraud," Emerson told TheCredit Union Journal. It is at least the fourth time over the pasttwo years that member accounts at the credit union have beenpotentially violated, including a recent hacking at a local shoecompany that forced the credit union to recall some debit cards,and last year's massive penetration of the database at BJ'sWholesale Club, which forced Sharon CU and 165 other credit unionsto recall hundreds of thousands of credit and debit cards.Ironically, a Eugene Foley, president of Harvard University FCU,was testifying before Congress Wednesday about the affect on creditunions of the BJ's incident.