NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Citibank says it has blocked the use of some of its PIN-based debit cards after detecting fraudulent cash withdrawals in three countries. The bank says the debit-card information apparently was obtained by thieves in ``a third-party business' information breach'' last year. Citibank did not name the merchant or processing firm, but industry officials familiar with the case said the breach occurred in the United States.
Citibank says it began monitoring affected accounts after the breach and in mid-February, the company detected several hundred fraudulent cash withdrawals in Britain, Canada and Russia.
The bank said it blocked transactions on cards that may have been compromised in the breach after the fraud was detected. Citbank is contacting customers and will provide new debit cards.
The bank did not say how many cards would have to be reissued.