As ConsumerAffairs.com previously reported, a more widespread and serious ChoicePoint security breach was a strong possibility. The company has now conceded that is indeed the case.
Previously the Georgia-based company, which keeps a massive database of personal information on virtually every American, revealed that criminals had gained access to some of its files, putting some 35,000 California residents at risk for identity theft. We noted at the time that California is the only state that requires such notification, and the problem could extend to other states.
In a statement, ChoicePoint now says nearly 145,000 consumers' most sensitive information has been compromised, extending throughout the U.S. and into three territories.
"We do not know how many of these approximately 145,000 consumers may be actual victims of identity theft but we have been informed by law enforcement officials that they have identified and directly notified approximately 750 consumers nationwide that some part of their identity information has been compromised," the statement said.
The records were obtained by criminals pretending to be legitimate ChoicePoint customers, seeking information about individuals. Choicepoint said all its 17,000 customers are being re-screened to ensure they are who they say they are.
"In addition to assisting law enforcement officials, we are taking voluntary actions at company expense to help affected consumers protect their identity. We want to tell you what we believe occurred and what information was released. We also want to provide you with details about what we are doing to inform and assist consumers that may be affected, and what we are doing to ensure we have reduced the possibility of future unauthorized access to personal information by criminals," the company said.
Besides the nearly 35,000 affected consumers in California, notices of compromised records have gone out to 11,000 consumers in Texas, 10,000 in Florida, and 9,300 in New York.
The company was founded in 1997 as part of a spin-off of Equifax Inc., a credit reporting agency. It has 19 billion public records in its database, including motor-vehicle registrations, license and deed transfers, military records, names, addresses, credit records and Social Security numbers.
