Credit card security breach fear



Reports are being investigated of a major credit card scam in Spain.

According to the BBC, anyone who used a Visa or Mastercard credit card when in Spain may have had their card data compromised.

In Germany, as many as 100,000 cards are reportedly being recalled. UK customers will be contacted directly if they are thought to be at risk.

Card holders are being assured that they will be protected against this type of fraud, but are being advised to check their statements.  Spanish police are investigating a credit card processing company which is believed to be at the centre of the scam.



In a statement, Visa Europe confirmed that "it is aware of a possible card data security issue in Spain. No details are yet confirmed, but we do not believe that the issue is specific to Visa."   Both Visa and Mastercard say their systems have not been compromised. The problem appears to be somewhere in the payment chain. 



From the Associated Press:







Consumers are being warned to check their credit card statements after a suspected card fraud was uncovered in Spain. Spanish police are understood to be investigating a credit card processing company believed to be at the centre of the scam.



Thousands of cards that may have been compromised have already been re-called in Germany, and it is thought that any consumer who has had a payment processed by the Spanish company could be at risk, not just those who have used their cards in Spain.  But card providers sought to reassure consumers that they would not lose any money if they were the innocent victims of fraud.



Cardholders who are worried their details may have been compromised are being advised to keep a close eye on their account and report any unexpected transactions.



A Visa Europe spokesman said: "We cannot comment on the detail of specific investigations but Visa Europe is aware of a possible card data security issue in Spain.  "No details are yet confirmed, but we do not believe that the issue is specific to Visa.



"As is normal in these circumstances, we have contacted a number of our member banks to make them aware of the situation and some may decide to take action as a precautionary measure.



"In instances like this, our role is to support on-going investigations and to share the outcome with our member banks who can then act to protect cardholders."A MasterCard spokesman said the group was "monitoring developments" to find out the extent to which card account data had been placed at risk. He stressed that MasterCard's own systems had not been compromised

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