TYLER - A warning tonight for all of you who own a credit card— millions of americans are victims of a new data breach, and you could be one of them.
Heartland Payment Systems is reporting hackers tapped into computers they use to process 100-million payment card transactions.
It's affected millions of americans, including those right here in East Texas.
Parker Griffith says, "I called my bank and they told me my card was involved in the Heartland Breach."
Griffith was surprised to find out— he was one of the millions affected by the latest data breach.
Even more surprising— he found out, he wasn't alone.
Griffith says, "About 200 people from my bank have been affected."
Parker banks at Cooperative Teacher's Credit Union in Tyler.
He says, "They were helpful when they found out I had a card with a suspected number."
Officials at the bank tell us, they aren't the only ones affected.
A small number of customers at Southside Bank were, too.
And, they believe there are more.
According to USA Today, Heartland Payment Systems discovered the hack last week, after Visa and Mastercard notified them of quote "suspicious" transactions.
Investigators found a data-stealing program planted by thieves.
Ann Harris says, "A payment center could be taking information from numerous banks, credit cards, almost anything."
Although officials tell us, breaches like this one happen all the time, Ann Harris with the Better Business Bureau warns— be careful.
Harris says, "Hackers can get into most anything."
Harris says, although you may not be able to protect yourself from hackers in a data breach— you can check your credit report!
That's the best way to make sure you're not a victim of fraud.
USA Today reports, once Heartland sorts out the matter, they will notify each victim whose data was stolen.