Goodyear says credit card data has been compromised since last year

PHOENIX — After learning about a possible data breach earlier in the week, Goodyear confirmed Thursday that its online payment processing system has been compromised for almost a year.

Officials urged customers who paid for city services using credit or debit cards since June 13, 2017 — online or in person — to check their statements for suspicious or fraudulent activity and contact their financial institutions with any concerns.

“We understand the distress this breach has caused our customers and sincerely apologize for the frustration and inconvenience our customers are experiencing,” Goodyear City Manager Julie Arendall said in a news release.

Investigators are working to identify which customers were affected, and the city will notify those customers directly.

The city said it first became aware of the breach Monday after a customer reported the matter.

The vendor of the payment system conducted a forensic investigation and determined that credit card information was being “skimmed” for the past 11 months.

The investigation found no evidence that personally identifiable information was accessed, the city said.

The payment system has been shut off since Monday and won’t be restarted until a new server is installed and security-tested.

Until then, customers can pay fees in person at city hall, with the SurePay system, via the automated telephone system at 623-882-7373, or with paper checks.

Customers are encouraged to visit www.goodyearaz.gov and follow the city’s social media accounts for updates about the matter.

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