Crime & Safety

Zaxby's Warns of Potential Security Breach; Stores in Gwinnett Included

Malware found on computers at some locations could have been used to export customer names and credit and debit card numbers, officials say.

Zaxby's is warning customers of a potential security breach that may have resulted in unauthorized access to credit and debit card information. Some Gwinnett outlets are among the locations.

Certain licensed locations have identified suspicious files on their system which "have been identified by credit card processing companies as common points of purchase for some fraudulent activity."

According to a statement released by Zaxby's, the restaurant chain has notified the appropriate authorities and will continue to cooperate with the investigation. 

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"During the course of its forensic investigation, Zaxby's Franchising, Inc. identified some suspicious files, including malware, on the licensees' computer systems at certain Zaxby's locations," the release stated. "Because those files could have been used to export guest names and credit and debit card numbers, Zaxby's Franchising, Inc. informed appropriate law enforcement authorities of the potential criminal activity."

The investigation has yet to determine whether any data left the processing systems, but officials are concerned the presence of the suspicious files could indicate the data, which includes credit and debit card information, has been accessed. 

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As a result of the possible breach, Zaxby's Franchising Inc. is working to implement additional security measures at all of its locations. The company has posted a list of stores known to have been affected by the potential security breach, and it includes locations in Buford, Dacula and Norcross.

"Zaxby's Franchising, Inc. takes the security of guest information very seriously and is working closely with the affected store locations to provide notice to potentially affected guests.  Zaxby's Franchising, Inc. encourages all potentially affected guests to monitor their financial accounts for any unauthorized activity and to check their credit scores," the release stated.  

According to the Zaxby's website, customers can order a free copy of their credit reports by visiting the website www.annualcreditreport.com, by calling (877) 322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Form at www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0093-annual-report-request-form.pdf.  

Company officials advise customers to promptly report any incident of fraud to local law enforcement, the appropriate state Attorney General's office, and the Federal Trade Commission.  

For more information, contact Zaxby's at 1-877-739-8599 or visit www.zaxbys.com.

This article originally posted in Dacula Patch.


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