Banks report thousands in loss after debit card info is compromised at local business

Local banks reported thousands of dollars in loss last week after discovering that many customers’ debit card information had been compromised at a Lawrenceburg business.

Reports filed through the Lawrenceburg Police Department show that officers spoke with officials with Community Bank/Bank of Waynesboro on Friday. Bank officials reported that a total of sixty-three of their customers’ debit card information had been compromised.

They said that all of the fraud incidents had originated through a Lawrenceburg carwash business. They told officers that the incidents were not believed to have resulted from a skimmer, but rather from the system being hacked.

Bank officials reported that they had reimbursed all affected customers, expended $15 per dispute, and issued new cards to those customers, as well. Altogether, they reported that the incident had cost the bank around $13,000.

Reports indicate that customers of other local banks were affected, as well. Breaches were reported at People’s Bank where losses of $2,500 were reported, at Lawrenceburg Federal Bank, and at First Farmers and Merchants Bank where loss was said to total $12,000.

Community Bank officials reported that “the owner of the carwash was doing nothing to correct the issue.” In order to prevent any further breaches, they said that the business’ merchant code had been blocked for all Bank of Waynesboro customers.