News Release from Okemo Mt Resort
Okemo Mountain Resort today announced that it has been a recent target of criminal efforts to gain access to credit data by infiltration of its computer network at Okemo Mountain Ski Area. Okemo believes the intruder gained potential access to credit card data including cardholder names, account numbers and expiration dates. An expert in data security and forensics hired by Okemo to assist in the investigation and response to the incident has informed Okemo that its computer system was improperly accessed by an outside party for a 16 day period between February 7, 2008 and February 22, 2008. Affected consumers potentially include those who used their credit cards at Okemo during such dates as well as those who did so from January through March of 2006.
The exact number of cardholders affected is unknown at this time. The forensic review determined that the intruder may have accessed credit card data from up to 28,168 credit card transactions processed at Okemo during the 16 day period in February. The actual number of credit cards holders involved in the transactions is likely to be smaller because multiple transactions may have been processed on a single card. In addition, there may have been access to 18,401 individual credit cards used at Okemo from January through March 2006, many of which are believed to have expired. The forensic expert determined that there was no evidence of any security breach to the computer systems at Mount Sunapee or Crested Butte.
Upon discovery of this intrusion, Okemo promptly initiated security measures to block the infiltration and protect any personal information transmitted through its system from any further unauthorized access. Okemo has provided notice to Visa, MasterCard and American Express and is cooperating fully with the credit card companies to notify potentially affected cardholders. Okemo does not have sufficient information to directly contact cardholders. Okemo has been informed that the banks, which issued the credit cards, will be provided with information necessary to notify their cardholders. Okemo has also notified law enforcement and is providing notice to State Attorneys General and appropriate regulatory agencies. Okemo will continue to carefully monitor the security of its systems moving forward.
Okemo has been advised by Federal law enforcement officials that the matter is currently under investigation. Okemo recommends that all cardholders carefully review their credit card statements and credit reports and remain alert for any unauthorized or suspicious activity. Further, Okemo recommends that cardholders consider monitoring free credit reports that are available through the three major credit agencies, Equifax - www.equifax.com, Experian - www.experian.com, or TransUnion www.transunion.com.
Okemo will provide updates on this incident on its website: www.okemo.com. For further information or assistance, cardholders are encouraged to call the following Toll Free Number, 1-866-756-5366 . Okemo can also be contacted at Okemo Mountain Resort, 77 Okemo Ridge Road, Ludlow, VT 05149.