July 15, 2016
DHS vendor to replace nearly 7,300 debit cards to ensure cardholder security following cyberattack
ATLANTA – Following a cyberattack on a major nationwide retailer, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is working to ensure the security of its customers and employees.
The Department and its vendor, Xerox, are replacing 7,292 DHS-administered debit cards branded with a MasterCard or Visa logo that may have been compromised in the cyberattack. The cards allow Department employees, child support clients and recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to access regular payments from the Department.
DHS contracts with Xerox to provide more than 100,000 debit and other electronic benefits transfer cards to Department staff and clients. Xerox will notify cardholders who have potentially been affected by the data breach and mail replacement cards with new PIN numbers to those cardholders on Tuesday, July 19. Cardholders will have 14 days to activate replacement cards.
Xerox is also monitoring the accounts of potentially affected cardholders for fraudulent activity.
"The security of our staff and our clients is of utmost importance to the Department," said DHS Commissioner Robyn A. Crittenden. "We will continue to monitor this situation until all those who have been potentially affected by the cyberattack receive new cards and we are assured their information is secure."
Any cardholder suspecting fraudulent activity is encouraged to contact Xerox Customer Service at 800-656-1344.