There are differences of opinion as to how many Israeli credit card holders are at risk but all are in agreement regarding the successful hacking attack that penetrated a credit card database in Israel. The attack was perpetrated by Saudi Arabian hackers, and according to published reports, tens of thousands of Israelis may have been affected, with their personal information now exposed. Bank of Israel officials have already announced an investigation is underway, and the credit card company and the bank assure clients that anyone exposed will receive a new credit card forthwith, and any financial damage incurred will be compensated. In short, clients will not be liable for any purchases made as a result of hackers obtaining their information.

The cyber attackers called the break-in a “gift to the world for the new year”.

Ynet reports that one Israeli student who saw the list released by the hackers states there are 18,000 names, and not “over 400,000” as the hackers claim. One explanation may be offered by a math/science major at Haifa’s Technion Institute, who explains there may be 400,000 listings, but many are the same names repeated numerous times.

UPDATE: 11:30am – Israel Radio: Officials reports hackers obtained information of 15,000 people from three different credit card companies; IsraCard, CAL and Leumi Card.

The following statement was released to the media by the Bank of Israel:

As reported in the media, details of credit card customers were recently exposed on the Internet, as a result of hackers breaking into the websites of companies which maintained that information. Based on an initial report submitted by credit card companies to the Banking Supervision Department, the information was on a total of about 15,000 active cards, at the three credit card companies—Cal (Cartisey Ashrai Le’Israel)—Israel Credit Cards; Isracard, and Leumi Card. The Banking Supervision Department is in continuous contact with the companies in order to investigate the event, the circumstances of its occurrence, and actions being taken to deal with the occurrence.

The credit card companies reported that they have identified the cards of the customers whose details were exposed on the Internet, and the cards have been blocked for use in Internet purchases and telephone purchases. This is expected to prevent fraudulent use of the cards through these methods, following the exposure of the information. The companies are contacting the customers in order to exchange the cards that they own. Service centers of all the companies are set to provide answers to customers, and customers who suspect that their card has been misused can turn to the credit card company in order to look into the need to cancel the charge.

The Banking Supervision Department wishes to clarify that the customers will not bear responsibility for fraudulent use of the cards as a result of the exposure of their details as noted above, in accordance with the instructions of the Debit Card Law. In any case, the Banking Supervision Department recommends that customers examine the charges on their credit card statement or at the websites of the credit card companies in order to identify transactions that they did not conduct. Any problem should be reported to the credit card companies as soon as possible.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)