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LexisNexis Warns of Another Data Breach

LexisNexis (www.lexisnexis.com) has sent letters to 32,000 people stating that their personal information may have been improperly accessed by former customers in a credit card fraud scheme. A data breach of the databases at LexisNexis and at a Santa Fe, N.M., company called Investigative Professionals, which conducts background checks including employee screenings, took place between June 14, 2004, and Oct. 10, 2007, and the private information viewed included names, dates of birth, and possibly even Social Security numbers.

The letter, reprinted by CBS News, which first reported the breach (www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/01/cbsnews_investigates/main4982989.shtml), says the individuals improperly accessing the personal information were operating businesses that at one time were both ChoicePoint and LexisNexis customers but are no longer. The letter also notes that the "United States Postal Inspection Service, a federal law enforcement agency investigating this matter, has already notified you directly if it has reason to believe you have been an actual victim of a crime." The service also issued a statement, but it does not name the data providers. It is available at https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/radDocs/PressRoom/nr090504.html.

The letter from LexisNexis also offers potential victims a year of free credit card monitoring through ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian company. It includes an initial 3 Bureau Credit Report. So far, LexisNexis has not posted information on its website or issued a press release about the incident. LexisNexis reported a more extensive data breach in 2005 and says it has since taken a number of steps to strengthen its privacy and security safeguards to improve the overall protection of consumers' information.

Sources: CBS News, U.S. Postal Inspection Service