How to Tell if You're Caught in the Giant Global Payments Credit Card Fraud

02.04.2012
Fallout from the Global Payments fiasco that could affect potentially millions of credit cardholders continues. First, Visa over the weekend dropped the Atlanta-based credit card processor from its ranks as a partner "compliant" in accepted industry data security standards.

Meanwhile, Global Payments said that cardholders' names, addresses and Social Security numbers . The company says that only what's known as Track 2 data (relating to the magnetic strip on the back of the card) was stolen--that is, the credit card numbers and their expiration dates.

"Based on the forensic analysis to date, network monitoring and additional security measures, the company believes that this incident is contained," Global Partners added.

However, it appears to be left to credit card-holding consumers to figure out their own potential exposure in the mess. The blogosphere is sparkling with speculation, but the facts are still sparse. Global Payments said Monday it is in the process of setting up a website to help consumers who might be affected.

A part of what it is difficult to determine exactly who might be affected stems from the complex nature of the credit card processing chain.