Breach, Threat Management, Data Security, Incident Response, TDR

Marriott will pay to replace passports after breach

After its breach, which compromised the personal data of 500 million customers, Marriott has agreed to pay for new passports if it has found that "fraud has taken place.”

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., on Sunday suggested the hotel chain cover the $110 charged to customers requesting new passports after the breach.

While the hotel chain believes the chance of hackers using passport numbers “is very low,” Marriott spokeswoman Connie Kim told The Washington Post, the hotel giant is willing to foot the bill in cases the company deems necessary.

Kim said Marriott is currently setting a process with guests who believe they have experienced fraud as a result of their passports being involved in the incident and that the company will reimburse guests for costs associated with getting a new passport.

While criminals can’t create a fake passport from just the passport number alone, many experts and government officials agree that combined with other personal information compromised in the breach, there is a serious risk of identity theft that could be a threat to national security.

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