Statement From Holiday Motel

ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt., Dec. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 22, 2014, the Holiday Motel learned of potential unauthorized access to its computer systems.  Upon discovering this issue, the Holiday Motel immediately launched an investigation into this matter and took steps to prevent any further unauthorized access.  To assist with this investigation, independent computer forensic experts have been retained to review the Holiday Motel systems and to determine what information may have been accessed without authorization.  Additionally, the Holiday Motel has been working with law enforcement to investigate this matter.  Although the investigation is ongoing, it has been determined that malware was placed on the Holiday Motel system leading to the unauthorized access of certain pieces of  guests' personal information, including the guest's name, address, phone number, email address (if provided), credit card number and credit card expiration date.  This incident affects guests who used their credit card at the Holiday Motel between December 1, 2013 and September 24, 2014. 

To help protect affected guests, the Holiday Motel is offering a complimentary one-year membership of Experian's® ProtectMyID® Elite. 

Affected guests may also take action directly to further protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss.  The Holiday Motel encourages affected guests to be vigilant by reviewing their account statements regularly and monitoring their credit reports for suspicious activity.  Under U.S. law, individuals are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus.  To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228.  Individuals may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of your credit report.

At no charge, these credit bureaus place a "fraud alert" on an individual's file that alerts creditors to take additional steps to verify that individual's identity prior to granting credit in the individual's name.  Note, however, that because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect this individual, it may also delay the individual's ability to obtain credit while the agency verifies the individual's identity.  As soon as one credit bureau confirms the fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts on the individual's file.  To place a fraud alert, or for any questions regarding your credit report, please contact any one of the agencies listed below.  Information regarding security freezes is also available from these agencies.

Affected guests can further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, and the steps they can take to protect themselves, by contacting the Federal Trade Commission.  For North Carolina residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001, 1-919-716-6400, www.ncdoj.gov.  For Maryland residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 200 St. Paul Place, 16^th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, (888) 743-0023, www.oag.state.md.us.  The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at:  600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/, 1-877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338); TTY: 866-653-4261.  The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them.  Affected guests can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above.  Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement.

The security of our guests' personal information is one of our highest priorities.  The Holiday Motel is sorry for any inconvenience and concern this incident may cause our guests.  Should guests  have any questions about the content of this notice, enrollment in Experian's®  ProtectMyID®  Elite or ways they can protect themselves from the possibility of identity theft, please call the confidential hotline between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. EST, Monday to Friday at 1-877-237-7408.  Please use reference number 4733111914 when calling. 

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SOURCE Holiday Motel