Experian Breached, 15 Million T-Mobile Customer's Data Exposed

New submitter Yuuki! writes: The Washington Post reports that T-Mobile's Credit Partner, Experian, has been breached revealing names, addresses, Social Security numbers, birth dates and driver's license and passport numbers for any customer who has applied for device financing or even services from T-Mobile which required a credit check. Both parties were quick to point out that no no credit card or banking data was stolen as part of the attack. The attack started back in September 2013 and was only just discovered on September 16, 2015. Both Experian and T-Mobile have posted statements on their websites and Experian is offering credit for two free years of identity resolution services and credit monitoring in the wake of the breach.

Comments

Re:Identity Theft

[gtall]

I second this advice, I did this several years ago. It should be noted, however, that the three credit record agencies cannot prevent someone from getting credit in your name. The system relies on the intuition, and it is only that, that any self-respecting credit issuing entity will require a credit record (and a good one, at that) before issuing credit. If Joe's Bank and Bait Shop wants to issue someone a credit card in your name and doesn't give a flying rat's ass about your credit history, they are free to do this.

There is no national system to prevent credit from being authorized in your name, even to aliens from other worlds.

Experian

[internerdj]

One of the three major credit rating services? I'm a little bit impressed that this breach was limited to only everyone who has ever applied for T-Mobile service.

Re:Identity Theft

[drinkypoo]

It should be noted, however, that the three credit record agencies cannot prevent someone from getting credit in your name.

Yep. A shady car dealer in Nevada City gave an illegal with my SSN written on a check cashing card credit in my name, and now it's on my credit report. The whole idea that this can even happen is proof that the system is broken. I shouldn't have to appear to fight this, no court should have granted a judgement on the basis of a CHECK MART card with my SSN written on it in pen.