Gainesville restaurant officials speak out on identity theft investigation
Save Email Print
Bookmark and Share
Updated: 5:22 PM Dec 3, 2008
Gainesville restaurant officials speak out on identity theft investigation
GAINESVILLE, TX ― Multiple cases of identity theft have hit Gainesville and one restaurant linked to several victims by a local bank. Now that restaurant is speaking out. Golden Chick is doing whatever they can to make sure their store is safe. Rashi Vats explains.
Posted: 5:20 PM Dec 3, 2008
Reporter: Rashi Vats
Email Address: rashi.vats@kxii.com
width:200 and height: 120 and picwidth: 200 and pciheight: 120
Font Size:

GAINESVILLE, Tex. ― Multiple cases of identity theft have hit Gainesville and one restaurant linked to several victims by a local bank. Now that restaurant is speaking out. Golden Chick is doing whatever they can to make sure their store is safe. Rashi Vats explains.

After some customers claim to have used their debit card and been victims of identity theft, Golden Chick is doing whatever they can to make sure this doesn't happen again.

"We have had 16 on the report that have eaten at Golden Chick, and their cards have been compromised, but at this point none of that has been proven that it's from Golden Chick," says Golden Chick store owner Dee Lee.

But Golden Chick is taking a proactive approach.

"At this point, they are still not able to pinpoint if it’s an issue here at Golden Chick, or if it’s an issue at First State Bank, or if it involves someone else, and we've decided not to wait and be proactive,"- Mark Parmerlee, owner, Golden Franchising Corporation, says.

They have already added a newer camera system since the incidents. Restaurant managers say all registers will now be monitored constantly by their corporate headquarters.

Golden Chick is also adding swipe cards so that the customer’s credit or debit card never leaves their hands, but it isn't just Golden Chick patrons that are being affected by identity theft.

Golden Chick employee Traci Redder says she was a victim just recently, and she did not use her card at Golden Chick.

"I never thought it would happen to me, but it did. It can happen to anybody, no matter where you use your card so be careful," Redder says.

Golden Chick wants everyone to know that they are a safe place.

"We want everyone to know that we are doing everything humanly possible to make sure that Golden Chick in Gainesville is the safest place to eat," Lee says.

Golden Chick corporate officials are currently meeting with Cooke County Sheriff’s investigators to try to get to the bottom of the dozens of identity theft cases First State Bank of Gainesville says are linked to the restaurant.


KXII Twitterfeed (@KXIITV)
    In The Community
    Trendy Tuesday: It's all about cupcakes

    Last Updated: 10:04 PM 02/07/12 - It's Trendy Tuesday and it's all about cupcakes. (Full Story)
    Severe storm program coming to Grayson Co.
    Last Updated: 3:11 PM 02/06/12 - DENISON, TX - As part of its area-wide weather preparedness campaign, the National Weather Service in Fort Worth will answer these and many other questions at the SKYWARN severe weather program on Thursday, February 16th, at the Grayson County College. (Full Story)
    Dot Foods to host job fair in Ardmore
    Last Updated: 3:12 PM 02/06/12 - ARDMORE, Okla. — Dot Foods will conduct a job fair Saturday, February 11, with hopes to fill 50 full- and part-time positions. The job fair will be held at the Ardmore distribution center located at 3411 Cypert Way in Ardmore, Okla. from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. (Full Story)
    New Meals on Wheels Executive Director
    Last Updated: 6:24 PM 02/03/12 - SHERMAN, TX-- Meals on Wheels serves 36,000 meals to senior citizens in Fannin, Grayson and Cooke Counties in one month. And now they've got a new leader at the helm. (Full Story)
    Meeting to Address Medicare Concerns

    Last Updated: 8:37 AM 02/03/12 - There are two big meetings coming up for Texoma seniors and their families. (Full Story)
    More Headlines