Debt collection agency Financial Business and Consumer Solutions (FBCS) has updated the impact of its February data breach, now reporting it affects 4.2 million people in the US.
FBCS, a US debt collection agency, handles unpaid debts from consumer credit, healthcare, commercial, auto loans and leases, student loans and utilities.
Initially, in late April, the firm disclosed that approximately 1.9 million individuals had their sensitive personal information compromised in the data breach on February 14, 2024.
In May, the company increased this number by 1.3 million, bringing the total to 3.2 million affected individuals.
According to a new supplemental notice filed with the Office of the Maine Attorney General, FBCS has raised the total again, stating the breach now impacts 4,253,394 people.
The exposed data varies by individual but may include:
- Full name
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Date of birth
- Account information
- Driver’s license number or ID card
New data breach notifications began going out to these additional individuals on July 23, warning them of increased phishing and fraud risks.
Recipients of the notification will also receive instructions on how to enroll in a complimentary 24-month credit monitoring and identity restoration service through CyEx.
The specific nature of the attack that caused the data breach remains unknown, and no ransomware groups have claimed responsibility. The company has stated that they detected unauthorized access to their internal network.
“On February 26, 2024, FBCS discovered unauthorized access to certain systems within its network. This incident did not affect computer systems outside of FBCS’s network,” according to the data breach notification.
Those impacted by the breach should be vigilant for targeted phishing attacks aimed at stealing additional information, such as credentials.
It is also advised to monitor credit reports for any signs of fraudulent activities or loans, as the exposed information could be used for identity theft.
Source: BleepingComputer, Lawrence Abrams
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