The New York Times reports that retail rewards programs are becoming one of the most susceptible hacks as companies digitize. California-based Javelin Strategy & Research found that loyalty program hacks doubled from 2017 to 2018, while an unnamed loyalty-fraud prevention group estimated in its own report loyalty program–related crime produces $1 billion a year in losses. Hackers access loyalty programs to not only steal account information and gain access to other accounts, but also to steal or sell loyalty point balances. Such schemes have been employed toward programs at McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts, Marriott and Hilton. (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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