3 Billion Social Security Numbers and Addresses Stolen

[SteveinHNL]

Personal Data of 3 Billion People Stolen in Hack, Suit Says (1)

Jerico Pictures Inc., a background-check company doing business as National Public Data, exposed the personal information of nearly 3 billion individuals in an April data breach, a proposed class action says.

news.bloomberglaw.com

Let's be very careful out there!!

 

[PigsDad]

Umm... I think your thread title might need a little revision. Social Security numbers are only in the US, and the US only has a population of ~330 million, so how could 3 billion SSNs have been stolen?

Sorry, I just like these word head scratchers -- I know it could be read a couple different ways.

Kurt

 

[SmithOp]

I have monitoring and was already notified my SS# was on the dark web. I have all the credit bureaus locked down already.

 

[buzglyd]

I have monitoring and was already notified my SS# was on the dark web. I have all the credit bureaus locked down already.

I got the same and locked mine also.

 

[TolmiePeak]

The only shocking thing is that people actually believe their private information is actually private.

 

[PigsDad]

The only shocking thing is that people actually believe their private information is actually private.

True dat.

Kurt

 

[Brett]

yeah, 3 billion social security numbers seems high
Bottom line: your personal data is always being "stolen"

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

Actually, the story says "personal data" of 3 billion people, but the story later says it includes SS#. So, they did not say 3 billion SSNs. If/when the lawsuit concludes, everyone in the class action will only get $0 credit monitoring. After so many hacks, I have credit monitoring for the last several years that I haven't paid for! Did they say my info is on the Dark Web? Yeah, but my credit so far has been safe, except for a few scammers who took my CC# (credit cards canceled and scam payments credited back).

TS

 

[tombanjo]

The real issue is there are credit and CC companies that will let a dog sign up for a credit card. Then want the person who they took zero interest in verifying pay for the fraud. Then pass on costs to everyone. That's my boomer rant for today.

 

[jeanf]

Personal data hacked also includes all us non u.s. citizens who have an ITIN number. Anyone doing business in the u.s., or those filing to get taxes back deducted from casino wins need an ITIN number.

 

[Talent312]

The real issue is there are credit and CC companies that will let a dog sign up for a credit card.

My dog gets email at an email address I created for her.

 

[GetawaysRus]

I try to be very careful with my personal information. It irks me that the businesses are so sloppy. Hardly a month goes by that we don't learn of a new massive hack. And then these businesses seem to get off the hook with minimal consequences other than offering free identity monitoring for 1-2 years. But the consequences for me are permanent.

Currently I think I have 3 free identity monitoring services that resulted from these massive hacks. I signed up for one of these just last week (thanks a bunch, AT&T). Within just a few hours in come the emails. "We found your email address on the dark web." "We found your phone number on the dark web." "We found your Social Security number on the dark web." Just wonderful. Every scammer in the world has all my personal information.

 

[SteveinHNL]

Umm... I think your thread title might need a little revision. Social Security numbers are only in the US, and the US only has a population of ~330 million, so how could 3 billion SSNs have been stolen?

Sorry, I just like these word head scratchers -- I know it could be read a couple different ways.

Kurt

I agree with your math. It's a head scratcher. I don't make the news, I just report it.

 

[jp10558]

I'd suggest just freezing your credit, seems to stop most stuff.

 

[TolmiePeak]

I'd suggest just freezing your credit, seems to stop most stuff.

I tried yesterday and didn't have any luck.

 

[jp10558]

I tried yesterday and didn't have any luck.

You didn't have luck submitting a credit freeze to the bureaus?

 

[PigsDad]

Personal data hacked also includes all us non u.s. citizens who have an ITIN number. Anyone doing business in the u.s., or those filing to get taxes back deducted from casino wins need an ITIN number.

Yes, but ITIN and SSNs are 9-digit numbers, which means there are at most 1 billion possible numbers. Just not possible to have 3 billion of those.

Kurt

 

[DaveNV]

For the 20 years I was in the Navy my military ID number was my SSN. That was how they did things back then. It was used freely and easily all over the world, along with my name and birthdate. I would be surprised at any point that my personal data was NOT on the Dark Web. I’ve been a participant of any number of data hacks over the years, to the point that the IRS gives me a special PIN number to include when I file my taxes, so they know it’s really me. All I can do as a private citizen is keep my credit file locked, and monitor any accounts I own. Fun times!

Dave

 

[PigsDad]

For the 20 years I was in the Navy my military ID number was my SSN. That was how they did things back then. It was used freely and easily all over the world, along with my name and birthdate. I would be surprised at any point that my personal data was NOT on the Dark Web. I’ve been a participant of any number of data hacks over the years, to the point that the IRS gives me a special PIN number to include when I file my taxes, so they know it’s really me. All I can do as a private citizen is keep my credit file locked, and monitor any accounts I own. Fun times!

I'm not sure when they changed, but the state of North Dakota used a person's SSN for their driver's license number/ID. And back when you paid for most stuff with a check, it was common practice to have your DL# printed on your checks, to save time since the store clerks were required to write the DL# on the check anyway.

A quick Google search shows that several states still either use SSN for DL# or have it included on the DL.

Kurt

 

[vacationtime1]

I'm not sure when they changed, but the state of North Dakota used a person's SSN for their driver's license number/ID. And back when you paid for most stuff with a check, it was common practice to have your DL# printed on your checks, to save time since the store clerks were required to write the DL# on the check anyway.

A quick Google search shows that several states still either use SSN for DL# or have it included on the DL.

Kurt

Fifty years ago, the University of Michigan used students' SSN's as their ID numbers (with a digit added at the end).

 

[TolmiePeak]

You didn't have luck submitting a credit freeze to the bureaus?

No they rejected my information when I tried to submit it online.

 

[jp10558]

Fifty years ago, the University of Michigan used students' SSN's as their ID numbers (with a digit added at the end).

Worse, it was the same at RIT back in 2000 too. It took a while for people to realize that was a bad idea.

 

[rapmarks]

No they rejected my information when I tried to submit it online.

This happened to me also

 

[jp10558]

This happened to me also

Dang. Hmmm, IDK what to do then. I set it all up back in 2008, they had to mail me a code via the post office. And I've just carried that account forward with each of the credit bureaus.

 

[SmithOp]

We were already part of a previous hack through Anthem Blue Cross. My wife kept getting alerts about Chase credit card applications, they have an online application system. Blocked every time by the credit lock but they kept trying, finally gave up after a couple months. It was every week there for awhile, it was pi$$ing her off having to call Chase fraud department, we don't have any Chase accounts.