Kerzner International has revealed details of the theft in a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Information stolen included names, addresses, credit card details, social security numbers, driver’s licence numbers and/or bank account data.
It is thought the information went missing from the Atlantis hotel’s computer database and was the work of either an insider with technological know-how or an outside hacker.
Based on information received and its own internal investigation, the management is notifying affected customers in writing so they can take steps to protect themselves from possible identity fraud.
The hotel is also providing, at no cost to them, a credit monitoring service for one year. According to the FBI, identity theft is generally perpetrated to facilitate other crimes, such as credit card fraud, cheque fraud or mortgage fraud.
With a person’s identifying information, an identity thief can open new accounts in the name of a victim, borrow funds in the victim’s name, or take over and withdraw funds from existing accounts of the victim, such as their checking account or their home equity line of credit.
In Kerzner International’s document, the resort said it believes around 55,000 customers may be affected.
“To date, the resort has not received any evidence that the information has been used to commit identity fraud or in any other manner adverse to its customers.
“The resort has engaged outside counsel and a firm specialising in information security to assist it in responding to this incident,” the statement said.
The resort has notified Bahamian and US law enforcement authorities and is co-operating with them.
However, Assistant Commissioner Reginald Ferguson told The Tribune that he had no specific knowledge of the incident. But he acknowledged that they do investigate instances like this from time to time.
Officer in charge of the Bahamas commercial crime division, Drexel Cartwright, said he was also unaware of the incident.
A call to the Kerzner International offices in New York revealed that the company contacted the FBI and US Department of Justice.
“We understand that this type of crime can cause great concern for people whose personal information may have been stolen,” said George Markantonis, president and managing director of the Paradise Island operations.
“I want to assure our customers that we take our obligation to safeguard their personal information very seriously and we are taking a number of steps to respond, including notifying customers in writing and suggesting ways they can help protect themselves from identity fraud.”
As this involves an ongoing criminal investigation, the resort said that it was not in a positiion to provide any more details at this time, but will do so as and when appropriate.
By RUPPERT MISSICK Jr., Tribune Chief Reporter
