A cybersecurity threat impacted Caesars properties earlier this month, according to the company, which owns and operates the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in Cherokee and the Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River in Murphy, including both casinos’ Caesar’s sportsbooks.
The Caesars data breach began on or around Aug. 27 and persisted until the company agreed to pay a ransom.
Gaming and hotel accommodation operations at Caesars are normal at this time, but according to media reports from Bloomberg and Reuters, the gaming giant paid tens of millions to a hacker group in response to the ransomware attack. The company has admitted that some customer data was stolen by the hackers, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Caesars Rewards program members in NC could be at risk
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. has teamed with IDX, a U.S.-based digital security enterprise, to provide a data-breach response for possible impacted customers.
A call to Caesars-owned Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel included a referral to a toll free hotline number staffed by IDX to provide assistance to Caesars customers who may have stayed at or visited a resort during the affected period.
An IDX customer representative explained that any current visit to a Caesars casino resort in the U.S. “will not be impacted, [and the] facilities are continuing as normal without interruption.”
However, any customer who is a member of the Caesars Rewards Program may be at risk, according to IDX.
Several news outlets are reporting that social security numbers and driver license information were stolen for a large number of the Caesars loyalty program members.
Digital security firm assisting Caesars in data recovery
IDX specializes in identity theft data breach security and recovery. IDX told NCSharp that their services are being retained by Caesars to assist in possible identity theft incidents from a malicious ransomware attack that targeted servers in several Caesars properties.
MGM also targeted in ransomware attack
On Monday, it became known that MGM Resorts have been targeted by a similar cybersecurity attack as the one that hit Caesars. There are no MGM resorts in North Carolina, but North Carolinians who may have traveled to MGM properties across the US should take precautions.
A statement from MGM has indicated that the company is deploying measures to secure the breach and minimize the risks. As of Friday morning, MGM’s casinos were still impacted by the attack, which a hacker group known as “Scattered Spider” had claimed credit for. However, phone and email systems and the MGM casino websites have come back online early Friday after several days of being hampered.
According to reports from groups that monitor hacker activity, the same criminal organization that performed a cyber attack on Caesars has claimed responsibility for the subsequent action against MGM. Reportedly, the group accessed systems by impersonating help desk employees. The Wall Street Journal claims Caesars Entertainment, Inc. paid half of a $30 million ransom request from the cyber criminals.
Contact IDX Hotline if your personal information may be at risk
Any consumer who has concerns over their personal information and fears it may have been compromised by a visit or gaming activity at a Caesars casino/resort location can call the Caesars/IDX security hotline at 1-888-652-1580.
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