Originally published February 23 2005
ChoicePoint’s data servers compromised by hackers; stolen info lead to identity theft cases in L.A.
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
ChoicePoint, a company that collects consumer data, has warned that hackers entered their servers and stole credit card information, Social Security information and other sensitive data. The attacks appear to have resulted in at least six cases identity theft in Los Angeles County. When ChoicePoint discovered crime in October, it closed the suspect accounts, restricted access, strengthened site verification and informed law enforcement agencies.
A company that collects consumer data warned thousands of Californians that hackers penetrated the company's computer network and may have stolen credit reports, Social Security numbers and other sensitive information.
ChoicePoint Inc. (CPS), which sells such data to government agencies and a variety of companies, acknowledged Tuesday that several hackers broke into its computer database and purloined data from as many as 35,000 Californians.
Last fall, hackers apparently used stolen identities to create what appeared to be legitimate businesses seeking ChoicePoint accounts, said Chuck Jones, a spokesman for Alpharetta, Ga.-based company.
It's unclear whether the data of people outside California was exposed.
But law enforcement agents, who have arrested one person on six counts of theft, say hundreds of thousands of Americans elsewhere may be at risk.
ChoicePoint has not notified consumers in other states, nor is it working with law enforcement agents elsewhere, Jones said.
"California is the focus of the investigation and we don't have any evidence to indicate at this point that the situation has spread beyond California," Jones said.
When ChoicePoint discovered the crime in October, it closed the suspect accounts, restricted access, strengthened site verification, informed law enforcement agencies and cooperated in their investigation.
Robert Costa, the lieutenant in charge of Southern California's High Tech Task Force Identity Theft Detail, said agents believe several other people were involved.
State residents were the only Americans notified because the state has a unique law requiring companies that do business with residents to warn them when they've had holes in corporate computer networks.
The bill defines "personal information" as an individual's first name or initial and last name, with one of the following: Social Security number; driver's license number; state identification number; or credit or debit card account number and security code.
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