Illinois-based sandwich franchise Jimmy John's announced on Wednesday that hundreds of its shops have been victim to credit card data breaches for the last four months.
"While the investigation is ongoing, it appears that customers' credit and debit card data was compromised after an intruder stole log-in credentials from Jimmy John's point-of-sale vendor and used these stolen credentials to remotely access the point-of-sale systems at some corporate and franchised locations between June 16 and Sept. 5," the franchise wrote in a statement, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Jimmy John's officials also revealed that one of the hardest-hit states was Michigan, with 18 store locations around the state being affected.
Credit cards used at store locations, not those used online, are said to be under threat of breach. Numbers, names, expiration dates and verification codes are also said to have been released.
Jimmy John's was founded in 1983 by Jimmy John Liautaud and operates in 43 states around the country. The restaurant franchise specializes in deli-style sandwiches.
Recently, the franchise came under fire for the founder's political views and treatment of animals. In 2010, Jimmy John Liautaud was spotted in photos where he appears to have hunted endangered species of animals, including a Delta leopard.
The franchise has also come under fire for its anti-union policies and support for anti-immigration efforts in Arizona.
