TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: ID Security Breach May Affect People in Every State, Firm Says

ID Security Breach May Affect People in Every State, Firm Says

Monty Solomon (monty@roscom.com)
Tue, 22 Feb 2005 16:27:49 -0500

By HARRY R. WEBER
The Associated Press

ATLANTA - ChoicePoint, under fire for being duped into allowing
criminals to access its massive database of personal information, said
yesterday that consumers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia
and three U.S. territories may have been affected by the breach of
the company's credentialing process.

The data warehouser also announced plans to rescreen 17,000 business
customers to make sure they are legitimate.

The Alpharetta, Ga.-based company said it has hired a retired Secret
Service agent to help revamp its verification process. It also has
paid for a one-year subscription to a credit-monitoring service for
each of the 144,778 people the breach may have affected.

The company said the smallest number of possible victims -- two -- was
in the U.S. Virgin Islands, while the largest number -- 34,114 -- was in
California. In Washington, 3,189 residents are getting warning
notices, the company said. It released a state-by-state breakdown
yesterday. People in Puerto Rico and Guam also may have been affected.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002186357_choicepoint22.html

List of states and territories affected by ChoicePoint information breach
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002186187_webchoicepointlist22.html

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: It would be good if you do not wait
for, nor rely upon ChoicePoint in this matter but that you write to
the company and make your own inquiries. PAT]

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