CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hackers are allegedly targeting Starbucks customers who pay using the store's mobile app. Multiple national news organizations report that thieves are stealing money out of people's accounts.
Like a lot of college students, Erin Brady drinks her fair share of Starbucks. She even downloaded the app so she can pay with it at the register.
"It's really easy and you get rewards too," she said.
She only uses gift cards to put money in her app account, but some people link their Starbucks accounts to their bank accounts, credit cards or PayPal so their accounts automatically reload.
Thieves are allegedly tapping into accounts, draining that money and taking advantage of the reloading feature, pulling money after that as well.
Starbucks emailed Action 9 saying hackers have not broken into the app itself and the Starbucks system is not compromised. The company believes criminals may be hacking into certain people's accounts, which is different. It blames weak passwords.
Brady will keep using the app, but keep a closer eye on it too.
"I don't have a whole lot of money to spare, so I need to be the safest I can be," she said.
If you want to use the app, just make sure you use strong passwords and change them often.
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