Grand Ole Opry owner victim of cyber 'spear phishing' of personnel info
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The operator of the Grand Ole Opry, among other properties, said it has fallen victim to a “spear phishing” scheme in which employee W-2 information was sent to cyber criminals.
Nashville, Tennessee-based Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc. said in a statement it learned on March 23 that an employee had disclosed personal employee information in response to an email purportedly sent by a company officer asking for employee W-2 information.
“We are taking immediate steps to help all those who may be impacted, including making identity theft protection and credit monitoring series available at no cost to affect invidious. We believe that any person who received a W-2 from us in 2015 may be impacted,” said the statement.
A spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for information on how many employees were affected.
Ryman is a real estate investment trust that specializes in hotel assets. In addition to the Grand Ole Opry, its assets include a network of resorts managed by Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriot International Inc. under the Gaylord Hotels brand.
Numerous firms have fallen victim to spear phishing efforts by cyber criminals this year.
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