Citi Card "account may be at risk for unauthorized use"

I logged onto my Citi Card account to create a virtual account number for an online transaction this morning only to be greeted byImportant Security Message
This is to inform you that your account may be at risk for unauthorized use. To ensure that it remains protected, we have:
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Restricted Account Online access for this account number.
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Issued a new Citi Card to you.

When you receive your new card, please take the following steps immediately:
1. Activate it as instructed on the sticker on the front of the card.
2. Inform authorized users of this situation.
3. Notify recurring billing merchants of the new account number.
4. Register your new account number with Account Online for full access again

In the meantime, to make payments online, change account information or use the Secure Message feature, call Customer Service at 1-800-950-5114. I quickly called the number, and the CSR informed me that my account was part of a batch that was "compromised," but he could/would not tell me how the breach/compromise occurred. My new cards supposedly went out this past Friday to arrive in 5-7 business days.

What's disconcerting (besides having to setup the new account number for bill pay purposes, etc.) is that I was using my card all weekend. According to the CSR, my current card should function all right for all transactions, but already, I found that not to be true when I tried to setup a VAN for that original online transaction. Moreover, I did not receive any notification about any breach/compromise nor of the fact that I would be receiving replacement/new cards in the mail. I received my daily balance email notifications just fine over the weekend.

I would have prolly freaked out thinking about identity theft, etc. if I just got the cards in the mail, and I had not known to expect them. Anyone else part of this batch? Is this related to the big financial account compromise news that was released (calculatedly) on Inauguration Day (of course, buried by all the day's inauguration news)?

I'm in the same batch... and, like you, I used my card all weekend with no problem.

Nice catch Citi!!!!!!!

I'm also part of this batch with my MTVu card. Was wondering if it will have any effect on my credit report - even if briefly.

Happened to me as well with my MTVu card!

my citi card has this warning about a new card being issued for the last 6 months lol

rigor said: my citi card has this warning about a new card being issued for the last 6 months lol

really? and you never got a new one? Maybe I should call them, then...

timothy86 said: Happened to me as well with my MTVu card!

Same here. My other Citi Cards are fine.

Happened with my MTVU card as well as my PremierPass Elite card. Have yet to receive my new cards tho...

Chalk another up for MTVU--I've had this happen before with this same card, I'm not sure why.

Since MTVU is primarily used by FWers for restaurants/bookstores/movies perhaps this is a part of the Heartland Payment systems breach?

squirrelproductions said:
What's disconcerting (besides having to setup the new account number for bill pay purposes, etc.) is that I was using my card all weekend. According to the CSR, my current card should function all right for all transactions, but already, I found that not to be true when I tried to setup a VAN for that original online transaction. Moreover, I did not receive any notification about any breach/compromise nor of the fact that I would be receiving replacement/new cards in the mail. I received my daily balance email notifications just fine over the weekend.

Your card number will function for all purchases, but online services are disabled when Citi does this, which is why your VAN would not work. Since only the online services don't function, I can sort of understand Citi only notifying you when you log-in... otherwise, no real need to worry. Citi is just covering themselves.

Happened to my mtvU card as well, for what its worth.

Same with my mtvU card, probably due to that Heartland thing... I forgot I did have some auto bills going to the mtvU card, so I've got to get those changed now..

I had my AT&T Universal Card show this when I logged into their website. They are sending me a new card as well. LOL, I was cyphering AOR money through their credit refund channel and didn't want to call them to stir the pot. Good to know there is another reason for the "unauthorized use."

Same thing happened. I had to call and activate VAN function.

same thing happened with mtvu. I wish they would notify customers first.

I noticed this when MS Money stopped downloading new transactions. FWIW, mine was a PPE.

I went through the same exact thing with my MTVU - no notice until I logged in and still have not recieved the new card (it's been about a week).

Here's what Citibank should have done: I just received a letter from RBS also warning me about a possible breach and telling me to expect a new card. On top of that, my current card is going to be valid until the 15th so I can use it until the new one comes. I personally appreciate the mailed notification and the fact I'm not losing use of my card (and that they let me know that).

Largest breach ever was revealed recently. A card processor is the culprit.. major hacking incident, was in the news weeks ago.

I'd recommend reviewing the transferred charges from the old mtvU cards to the new ones. Citi added one charge in duplicate -- easy to catch because the description was blank -- and for some reason my individual charges don't sum to their total, but there is no information about transferring a previous balance. Anyway, review this when you add your new card online.

I got this notice on my Citi Professional Card. I just called up and was told that my card can still be used until March, but can not use the old number online.

I complained about the inconvenience, and the CSR said he would credit my account 1,000 Thankyou points.

lonestarguy said: demingy said: Here's what Citibank should have done: I just received a letter from RBS also warning me about a possible breach and telling me to expect a new card. On top of that, my current card is going to be valid until the 15th so I can use it until the new one comes. I personally appreciate the mailed notification and the fact I'm not losing use of my card (and that they let me know that).

Did RBS get you the card in time? I am still waiting on mine and my "old" card will be cut off on Thursday.

I haven't received it yet (but did get the MTVU one). Still keeping an eye out.

grantmc said: @ChrisV : I am also having have the same error with Virtual Account Numbers - "Sorry, could not connect to the server...." Have you found a solution yet?

Nope

When I sent them an online message about it they told me to call in...haven't done that yet.