Fergie's Tech Blog

Hackers hit Canadian credit bureau

A Canadian Press article in The Globe and Mail reports:

Hackers have hit one of Canada's major credit bureaus.

Equifax Canada says it has discovered what appears to be the improper use of a customer's access codes and security passwords.

The agency says about 600 Equifax consumer credit files were accessed without authorization. Most of the people affected are in B.C.

Equifax is a national company that compiles credit records on consumers across Canada, using data provided by credit grantors such as banks, credit-card companies and retail outlets. Credit records typically include social insurance numbers, bank account numbers, home and work locations, spouses' names and six years of credit and banking history. In the wrong hands, experts say that type of information could allow a criminal to steal someone's identity, set up false accounts, obtain loans and credit cards, as well as get passports and other documents.

The R.C.M.P are conducting an investigation and Equifax has contacted the affected consumers.

posted by Fergie @ 6/16/2005 10:40:00 AM