Medical University of SC Suffers Theft of Credit Card Info Through Third-Party Provider

The Medical University of South Carolina has been reaching out to 7,000 customers of medical services to let them know their credit card information has been stolen. The cyber-theft came to the attention of the medical institution when it was notified by Blackhawk Statement Group, a third-party vendor that handles credit card processing for the university as well as a number of other institutions, some of which may also have had records stolen. The FBI has been brought in on the case.

The Medical University has a medical center and six colleges primarily for the education of health professionals and biomedical scientists.

The intruders broke into Blackhawk's database and stole names, addresses, credit card numbers, credit card security numbers, and email addresses of people who paid hospital or doctor bills online or over the phone using a credit card or debit card between June 30, 2013 and August 21, 2013.

According to materials made available by the medical university, there's no evidence that the thieves took health information, date of birth, or social security information details of those otherwise affected.

Local coverage in The Post and Courier Web site said the university found out about the data theft from Blackhawk on August 22, but delayed communicating to those affected until it had a plan for response. The reporting also quoted an attorney for Blackhawk stating that about 3,000 people at two other institutions outside of South Carolina were affected, but she wasn't at liberty to name them.

"Forensic discovery of this kind typically takes multiple days in order to provide a thorough and accurate assessment of what happened and to complete system repairs," stated the university's Interim President Mark Sothmann in a letter to the faculty and staff.

Blackhawk is working with the university to provide free enrollment in a credit protection program for a year through Experian. However, those who have been notified by the school have also been advised to communicate with their credit or debit card provider to alert them to the possibility of a compromise.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • stylized illustration of a global AI treaty signing, featuring diverse human figures seated around a round table

    World Leaders Sign First Global AI Treaty

    The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and several other countries have signed "The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law," the world's first legally binding treaty aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

  • file folders floating in the clouds, with glowing AI circuitry and data lines intertwined

    OneDrive Update Adds AI Agents, Copilot Interactions

    Microsoft has announced new enterprise capabilities in its OneDrive cloud storage service, many of which leverage the company's Copilot AI technologies.

  • happy woman sitting in front of computer

    Delightful Progress: Kuali's Legacy of Community and Leadership

    CEO Joel Dehlin updates us on Kuali today, and how it has thrived as a software company that succeeds in the tech marketplace while maintaining the community values envisioned in higher education years ago.

  • close-up illustration of a hand signing a legislative document

    California Passes AI Safety Legislation, Awaits Governor's Signature

    California lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved a bill that would impose new restrictions on AI technologies, potentially setting a national precedent for regulating the rapidly evolving field. The legislation, known as S.B. 1047, now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. He has until the end of September to decide whether to sign it into law.