Bank loses tape with personal information on 90,000 customers

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com>
Date: January 12, 2006 2:21:39 AM EST
To: undisclosed-recipient:;
Subject: Bank loses tape with personal information on 90,000 customers


Bank loses tape with personal information on 90,000 customers

By John Christoffersen, AP Business Writer  |  January 11, 2006

STAMFORD, Conn. --A tape containing the Social Security numbers and
other confidential data of 90,000 People's Bank customers was lost
recently while en route to a credit reporting bureau, state and bank
officials said Wednesday.

Millions of people around the country have been affected by a recent
string of data losses and thefts involving major financial
institutions and businesses including Citigroup Inc., Time Warner
Inc. and Ameritrade Holding Corp.

People's has no reason to believe the data has been used
inappropriately and has received no reports of unauthorized activity,
officials said. Customers do not need to close accounts because the
information is not sufficient to allow unauthorized access, the bank
said.

But consumer advocates say identity thieves could use Social Security
numbers to open new accounts in the names of those affected.

They say such data should be encrypted so it cannot be illegally
accessed and they advocate new laws that would allow consumers to
place fraud or security alerts on their credit reports to prevent
thieves from creating accounts.

...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2006/01/11/ 
bank_loses_tape_with_personal_information_on_90000_customers/




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