Marriott International says a guest reservation database has been breached and may have exposed information of approximately 500 million guests.
The Marriott is based in Bethesda, Maryland, and the company's investigation found that there had been unauthorized access to the Starwood database since 2014.
READ MORE: Marriott says guest reservation database was breached, impacting up to 500 million hotel guests
“The Marriott data breach is one of the largest and most alarming we’ve seen. My office will be taking a hard look at Marriott’s actions to understand the circumstances that led to the breach,” said Attorney General Frosh. “We will also be working with the company to make sure all customers who may have been impacted are notified and provided the resources to protect their personal information. We will be closely monitoring the company’s response to ensure that consumers are protected while we continue to investigate the data breach. I strongly urge consumers to take active and necessary steps to prevent any misuse of their information.”
Frosh suggests consumers should do the following:
- Check your credit reports from all three of the major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- Place a credit freeze on your files. A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. Keep in mind that credit freezes must be obtained from each of the credit reporting agencies. A credit freeze won’t prevent a thief from making charges to your existing accounts, such as debit and credit cards. Parents or guardians of minor children may also place a credit freeze on behalf of their child.
- Monitor your existing credit card and bank accounts closely for changes you do not recognize.
And this isn't the first problem the Baltimore area has had with the Marriott.
Back in August, the employees at Marriott Hotel in downtown Baltimore were seen picketing outside of the hotel demanding higher wages for the staff. A delegation of city council members and clergy leaders joined the workers in their fight to demand a fair process for workers to decide whether they want a union.
READ MORE: Baltimore Marriott Hotel employees protest for higher wages
According to those rallying, many of the full-time workers are struggling to make ends meet with the low salary that they are given. Some say they have trouble paying for necessities such as rent and proper healthcare.
