Local groceries not hit in URM a

Local groceries not hit in URM attack

November 26, 2013

Many people are expressing concern over the safety of using credit cards in local groceries after hackers targeted the computers of major regional grocery supplier URM, but managers at Super 1 Foods and Akins Harvest Foods in Bonners Ferry say no problems have arisen here, and steps have been taken to see that they don't.

Safeway, which is not supplied by URM, is unaffected by the breach.

The attack on URM, which adds fraudulent credit and debit card charges on sales in URM supplied stores across the region, was so subtle URM still isn't sure when they were hacked. The problem wasn't noticed until customers began noticing strange deductions on their accounts.

At the Bonners Ferry Super 1, no credit issues have been reported, but for any customer concerned, cashiers can process credit, debit and food stamp purchases the "old fashioned" way, by dial-up, which bypasses the hack and allows transactions to be processed securely.

At Akins Harvest Foods, all credit, debit and food stamp purchases are being processed telephonically so as to guarantee the safety of the customer's transaction, and they will remain off-line until URM restores their system, a job that is being worked at around the clock, but could taken another week to resolve.

They are also working with law enforcement agencies throughout the region to identify and stop those responsible for the breach.

Regardless of steps taken, URM encourages shoppers to check their account statements regularly, and immediately report any suspicious transactions to their bank.