States probing massive data breach of Social Security numbers

Santa Cruz Sentinel ^ | 4/04/2014 | Steve Johnson

[artichokegrower]

In what could be one of the biggest data breaches in history, the federal government and authorities in several states are investigating the criminal sale of Social Security numbers, bank account data and other personal information for up to 200 million U.S. citizens.

[The Cajun]

other personal information for up to 200 million U.S. citizens

Bet that little thumb drive was busy as a bee, LOL.

[RitchieAprile]

a sensible precaution given that they are still on a learning curve running the entire business process.

although it should be said in fairness that this case appeared not to be Obamacare-related according to the article..

[bgill]

You noticed that, too, huh. Not much info on where, when and who in that article. Makes you wonder just how widespread it might be.

[smokingfrog]

ruh roh!

[Grams A]

Parents need to periodically take a look at the credit report for each of their children. It’s amazing how many people steal children’s SS #’s and parents haven’t a clue.

[SpaceBar]

Good freaking gravy.

Another story that comes by but once or twice a year that leaves me speechless.

[Right Wing Assault]

Only about two thirds of us. LOL

Yeah, they don't have all the data on the little kids yet.

[Right Wing Assault]

too bad they don’t say which states....

Probably 50 of the 57.

[Jane Long]

LifeLock!

[familyop]

"U.S. Info Search through Court Ventures, a Southern California firm bought by consumer credit-reporting giant Experian in March 2012. Court Ventures' customers typically used U.S. Info Search's data to find court records."

[jsanders2001]

The government may have posted it for knee jerk reactions to get the prople to shut off all data access including FOIA requests so that only they will end up with access to that data. A lot of that data is needed for legitimate purposes to verify identities and combat fraud.

[Linda Frances]

Only about two thirds of us. LOL

---

Want to bet they’re all conservatives?

[dalereed]

“If you like your privacy, you can keep your privacy.”

Mine had “Not to be used for Identification” but they removed that and most people today don’t have that on their Social Security cards.

I don’t rember when they removed it but I got mine in 1945.

[Linda Frances]

This is a nightmare. I've had my wallet stolen on Christmas Eve a few years ago. In 45 minutes they filled up 5 cars with gas, went to target and spent $250 and no one checked their id, so they went back in and spent another $1,500. I called and closed everything. One of the places I called was Nebraska furniture mart. I had bought my son a gift certificate for Christmas. The certificate was not in my wallet. My bank register had it posted. A women went to the Kansas City Nebraska furniture mart 3 weeks later saying she lost her gift certificate and wanted to use it. They refused and she screamed discrimination. ......it did not end there. I still have a fraud alert under my name. To make matters worse my ID card to get on base was in there.

Now think about our 401k savings accounts, checking, x $$$ x 200 million.....God help us!

[TigersEye]

“This is just a small number, less than two thirds of all Americans.” - Bronc 0bunghole

[jeffc]

With the federal government involved with this and Holder in charge under obammy’s rule, I doubt anything will ever come from this. It’ll be buried. The media will be told it’s under investigation and to shut up about it and it quietly go away.

[Paul R.]

I’d have thought so too, but if you add up the numbers in the article, it’s possible that every legal U.S. citizen with a financial account of some sort has had their information stolen at least twice already. The damage has probably been limited so far only by the crooks’ ability to use that much data.

[Paul R.]

I’m not even seeing this on any major news outlets. (Only 3 checked, as it’s really late.) Seems incredible, given the potential consequences.

[berdie]

The thing about LifeLock that annoys me...is I didn’t think of starting that business before they did.

[PLMerite]

“Hacking to steal personal information for financial gain should be a capital offense.”

Not just hacking, *any* intentional identity theft should be a capital offense. Maybe give family a little leeway, but nothing else.